Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders.
POW Comedy Sketch Shows, Stalag IX-C, Germany

Harry Knox

show info

Thanks must go to Caron Paterson for sending us scans of a large set of incredibly interesting photographs that belonged to her Grandfather, Pte. Harry Knox of the Gordon Highlanders, taken during his time as a P.O.W. at Stalag IXC, Bad Sulza, Germany between 1940 and 1945.

The set includes a number of group photographs of men at Stalag IX-C in a variety of settings including several photos depicting an elaborate evening of 'POW Entertainment' in the form of amateur dramatics and comedy sketchs, conducted in full costumes on a lit outdoor stage.

Pte. Harry Knox appears as 'Stan Laurell' in one of these shots. These photos offer us a unique glimpse of what must have been an evening of fun and laughter that raised spirits.

The precise date of these photos are not known, however, each photograph has been categlogued with a reference number shown in shot.

Unfortunately the story of Knox's eventual liberation from the POW camp is not known. What is known is that he was a Gordon Highlander and in France as part of the B.E.F. in 1940. Knox was captured at St. Valery in June 1940 and remained a POW until sometime in early 1945.

An Army Travel Pass issued on 26th April 1945 places Knox back in England at No. 91 Reception Camp (in Amersham, just Northwest of London) which housed repatriated POWs on their initial arrival back on British soil.

A telegram announcing Harry's imminent arrival into Glagow Central Station was sent to Mrs Knox from nearby Berkhamsted. The date on the telegram is thought to read 8th May 1945 (which would be "VE Day").

Many thanks once again to Caron for sending these scans into us at youcanhelp@51hd.co.uk.