Seeking information on a German POW, Walter Reeh, who was likely held at Camp 235, The Arches, Felden, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. A photo of a group of 13 prisoners, including Walter (seated front row second from left), taken 5 May 1946, with a placard at their feet that has the date, a large number “2” and the initials “OL.” The photo postcard was sent to Walter’s brother, Reverend A.E. Reeh, First Baptist Church, LaSalle, Colorado, via Prisoner of War Post, or Kriegsgefangenen Post. A stamp on the back of the postcard reads: “German P.O.W. (W) Camp 235 Gt. Britain.”
Welcome to the forum. We had a thread on the same property: Looking for 'The Arches' Felden / Polish Radio Intelligence Company Or look here: https://historicengland.org.uk/imag.../prisoner-of-war-camps/prisoner-of-war-camps/
I had noticed the thread about "The Arches," which led me to associate the camp number 235 with Felden. The group photo background doesn't provide too many clues for determining the location. Thanks for the link to the POW Report. I'll check it out. Maybe it will inform me as to what the number 2 and OL on the sign stand for.
Hi, researching the whereabouts of my father during his POW time in England, I came across this thread. I have a similar picture taken at the same date and same location. Interesting, my father and Walter Reeh must have known each other. My father is top-left. My father was kept in camp 235 from 14-2-1946 until is relase on 16-5-1948. The location of this camp is here or : WWII PoW Sites GB - Google My Maps
Hello - I know where the actual location of this camp is, as I worked on the site a few years ago chopping trees down. It's closer to the A41 than where you've indicated on the map. There is a concrete bunker that's been backfilled with bricks, and on the end of that there is a large brick water tank. Next to that there is a mast which is still used today, and it can be seen from the A41 on the right hand side just before the turn off for Hemel. It's a very large building set low in the ground. I've attached some sketches. Apparently after the war, due to the large area of the bunker roof, it was used as an open air theater during the summer. We had a large digger on site at the time, and we dug on the edge of the bunker and the first scoop from the bucket unearthed a large amount of aircraft instruments and bomb release mechanisms. We weren't allowed to dig up the bunker but just out of curiosity we had one dig beside to see what we might find. The bomb release mechanisms we then found out were from a Lancaster bomber. Sadly I don't have any photos. I'll drive up there one time and get the exact location. Hope this helps!
