Just found this article 'Halfway Home –The Rehabilitation of New Zealand Second World War POWs in Britain' by a New Zealander Matthew Johnson, in the latest edition of the British Journal for Military History The Abstract states: Link (free access): View of Halfway Home – The Rehabilitation of New Zealand Second World War POWs in Britain On my first read it will be of interest to many here, especially those who are contributing and following the recent threads on POW camps in Italy.
David, My POW father was repatriated from Italy as "protected personnel" in late April 1943 and went to Warbrook House in Hampshire. New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy Stout, T. Duncan M. Publication details: Historical Publications Branch, 1956, Wellington Warbrook Convalescent Home When inquiries were being made for a convalescent home, Mrs Humphreys-Owen made a generous offer to the NZEF of her large country house rent-free and undertook to maintain portion of the staff. This house, ‘Warbrook’, was charmingly situated in beautiful grounds at Eversley, near Wokingham, and some 5 miles from Pinewood Hospital. Arrangements were made for the house to be fitted up for fifty patients by the War Organisation of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Captain Kirker and Sister Hennessy of 1 General Hospital were appointed temporarily to this convalescent home on 23 August (year?) to supervise medical and nursing arrangements respectively. ‘Warbrook’ had 377 New Zealand patients in its first year and continued, under Major Robertson, to be a convalescent home for New Zealanders until June 1943. The convalescent home was then transferred a few miles away to Church Crookham, where Captain Crowder, MP, made his house available. This house still exists as a hotel and we stayed there for 2 nights when in the UK 3 years ago. While the staff knew of some of it's history they had no idea it was used as the NZ Convalescent Home. Dad was repatriated with 14 other NZers, so I wonder who the other 300-400 were? He was discharged medically unfit in July of 43, so must of been one of the last patients there?
Contact with the original BJMH author identified a second, relevant article: 'Identity and Remembrance in the New Zealand Ex-PoW Association after the Second World War': Journal of Veterans Studies The author will be checking in here to assist his research into the experiences of NZers who were recaptured and murdered.
