German POW Update - Homefront Museum and Artifacts

In case you missed the previous POW posts: Researching POW... and connections.

Since I've started this research, I've come in contact with a number of very helpful people, thanks to readers who keep passing my POW posts on to others. I'm very grateful for that and also that some have taken time to share information and pictures with me. One of those people is Robert Henderson in Regina, Saskatchewan, who has an impressive POW artifacts collection - Homefront Museum and Artifacts. He's graciously sent me some pictures and has allowed me to share some with you. Robert does not have his own website, but his writings regarding POW and more can be found on Canadian Escapades and German Prisoners of War in Canada. Both sites are interesting and are good POW sources.

Some of the prisoners created beautiful pieces of art. Robert tells me, "When the POW moved into new areas, there was always lots of scrap around, both wood, metal, glass.  They would make their own handicraft tools.  As time went on they would be allowed to order from mail order catalogues, like Eaton's, for wood working tools, etc. Better to have them employed in hobbies, rather than escape plans." Or worse. Some committed suicide because of boredom.

Here are a few pictures that Robert Henderson shared with me:

ship in a bulb... What a brilliant recycling idea!

And to think this was in the 1940's!



Birch bark album

the back of the album

some of the drawings that depict life behind barbed-wire

And my favourite. Apparently this was inspired by an actual
happening. Wouldn't you just love to know the whole story?





a wood carving

As you can see, some of the prisoners were great artists--

battling boredom behind barbed-wire, they produced priceless pieces!

Thank you Robert for sharing your beautiful collection with us!