Copies of "Cymro" and "20 Bees Buzz" are on line at The National Library of Wales site Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru - National Library of Wales : Prisoner of War Camp Magazines I was pleased to see that my father contibuted an article on Rugby. He wasn't built for the game but he did love watching it.
There was also the Muhlberg Motoring Club Magazine that was hand written and had colour illustrations. Some years after the War some of the Magazines were put together in Book Form and published by Penguin. "Flywheel" was written and illustrated by the late Tom Swallow and Arthur Pill. The camp also had a few other artists of which I think Ray Newall was the most noted. Ray had a collection on display at Colditz,and now I believe there is a permanent display of Rays work at the Leeds Armoury.
There were some examples of "Flywheel" on display in the IWM last time I visited. Also some of Ray Newell's work appears in Tony Vercoe's "Survival at Stalag IVB". It's good that the "Cymro" and "Buzz" magazines have now come to light as the NLW purchased them in the 1980s.
There were some examples of "Flywheel" on display in the IWM last time I visited. Also some of Ray Newell's work appears in Tony Vercoe's "Survival at Stalag IVB". It's good that the "Cymro" and "Buzz" magazines have now come to light as the NLW purchased them in the 1980s. I am fortunate in having know both men over several years. Tom gave me a copy of "Flywheel" and Ray a sketch of P.O.W. on the deck of a ship while being transfered from Benghazi to Tripoli. Sadly Tom is no longer with us,but the last I heard Ray was still going strongly. Tony is a friend that I did some research for and who I also met 9yrs ago when I spent 3 days at his Home in New Zealand. Brian
Brian Good to hear that Ray Newell is going strong. I have admired his work for some time. When I read "a sketch of P.O.W. on the deck of a ship while being transfered from Benghazi to Tripoli" I couldn't help think that the P.O.W. was a lucky man being on the deck of the ship. I have an account written by my father which describes his hellish experience of being transported in the hold of a ship travelling between Benghazi and Tripoli. Maggie
Maggie, the transport of P.O.W. by ship from Libya is a subject I have researched since 1992. Yes I was very unusual for P.O.W. to get such a luxury as fresh air. Ray told me that the last P.O.W. at Benghazi were expecting liberation as the 8th Army were very close when a ship came into the harbour to take them away. Dennis Slack is another friend who was in 1VB. He wrote "Delayed Return" which gives his account of being shot down while flying with 158 Sqn. It goes on to give an account of his time in IVB. Brian
There was also the Muhlberg Motoring Club Magazine that was hand written and had colour illustrations. Some years after the War some of the Magazines were put together in Book Form and published by Penguin. "Flywheel" was written and illustrated by the late Tom Swallow and Arthur Pill. The camp also had a few other artists of which I think Ray Newall was the most noted. Ray had a collection on display at Colditz,and now I believe there is a permanent display of Rays work at the Leeds Armoury. A FULL-coulour copy of several editions (nos. 5-10) of "Flywheel" were produced in hardback form in 1987 by Fraser Stewart books, ISBN 1 874723 21 4. At the time it hit the mainstream classic motorcycle press, and about five years later I picked up a copy at a remainder sale. The book is laid out so that as you turn the pages thery are STRAIGHT from "Flywheel", no headers, footers, or borders. I don't know what the Penguin earlier edition looked like, but this later Fraser Stewart portfolio is a remarkable book.
I was mistaken regarding Penguin;it was Pacer Publishing who produced the first edition. As you said the second edition was by Fraser Stewart. Don't know where I got Penguin from.??? The original Magazines were bound in the Camp with what the inmates called "Skilly",a form of soup that I believe was thickened with Maize. The Camp bound original is in the I.W.M. and all proceeds from the first published edition went to the Red Cross. The magazine was indeed a very remarkable publication. Whilst a P.O.W. Tom Swallow wrote to B.S.A. and asked for a Franchise for the Family business. Quite a remarkable man was Tom who served with 14 Coy. R.A.S.C. where he got to know a chap called Schurch who was later hung for the Wartime Offence of "Treachery".
T.J.W. Schurch was the Name. There are seven Files on the man at Kew including his Courtmartial. He collaborated with the Enemy when he was a P.O.W. but was being watched by Special Branch prior to WW2. His behaviour was thought to be even stranger as he was of Swiss Jewish extraction . Tom first discovered what he was doing when he was a P.O.W. in Benghazi. Schurch was used as a "Stool pigeon" in Officer P.O.W. Camps and used the name of Captain Richards R.A.S.C. He was used by the Italians latterly in Rome but had been "on loan" to the Germans.
The statement was made after he had a good beating. From earlier documentation he had told the truth this time. I have read it before along with John Bromages Statement and testimony at the Court Martial. -- With Tom Swallow knowing him well I copied everything there was at Kew. Tom was Company Clerk and had Schurch working with him in the Office. Schurch was eventually sent out with the Company as he had been caught watering down the Officers Whiskey. About the same time he forged a three day pass to meet a contact. The name he signed the pass with was Captain Richards,the name he was to use when working for the Italians. When he was caught he was in posession of a Swiss passport obtained from the Embassy. Quite a complex character.
In the early sixties I visited 3 of the Annual Reunions of Stalag 1VB in the rooms above a pub near I believe Blackfriars Bridge. I became very friendly with Danny Danials who had been an officer at Muhlberg and the editor of 'Snips', a broadsheet displayed on the Notice Board, that are now deposited at the IWM. Danny gave me as a souvenir the one that announced the D.Day landings, before he said even the Germans guards knew! I also met Bdr. Doug Norton the Man of Confidence, whom I later learnt was a legend both at Muhlberg and at the Arbeits Lager he was 'sent' to by the RSM. I was shown by Doug an album of Vatican Stamps sent to POW Camps by the Pope, the only one I have seen or even heard of since! I also met two Colditz O.Rs, but that is another story. Mike.
I am told the Reunions held in Scotland were extremely well run affairs which I believe were organised by Bill Rae of the Buffs and Nat Hoffman who served with the Sharpshooters. After the Scotland reunions folded the Association run by Lew Parsons held their get togethers at Peterborough. It was at Peterborough where I had Dinner with Hanolore Brendl who at that time was Burgermeisteren of Muhlburg. She told me of the Towns plans to clear the area of the camp. During the Russian occupation the area was fenced off securely after the German P.O.W. had been released.
