An Officer and a Gentleman

[Old Smelly]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-li...-visit-2248453

Lee

[grenadierguardsman]

Brilliant.

[High Wood]

This is not particularly unusual except for the fact that he was a prisoner of the Germans. Allied soldiers interned in Holland during the Great War were allowed home leave if they gave their parole. Apparently everyone who visited their wives and families in the U.K. returned to Holland so as not to spoil the privilege for other internees.

There was also an exchange of PoW's between Germany and Great Britain in 1916. One of the conditions was that the men had to be so badly wounded that they could take no further part in the war.

[Frank Kelley]

Remarkable, perhaps cousin Bill was not such a bad egg, LOL no, what am I saying! the conditions in some of his camps were abhorrent!

[Nozzer]

Originally Posted by High Wood

There was also an exchange of PoW's between Germany and Great Britain in 1916.

There was also one in WW2, I understand in 1943. They tried it again, but I am told something went wrong?

[ebro]

This reminds me of an American pilot flying for the RAF in WW2. He was on anti Uboat patrol in the North Atlantic when he developed engine problems.
He headed back to his base in Derry but the engine cut out on route, he bailed out, his plane crashed and he landed safely in Co.Donegal in the neutral Irish Republic.
He made contact with the Irish police and asked them to take him to the border. Instead they escorted him to Co Kildare where he was interned for the duration.
The camp was very lax and the inmates could go into Dublin to the pubs, theaters etc unescorted.
One day he went to Dublin, but instead of going to the cinema he got on the train to Belfast.
On arrival at Belfast he contacted the RAF in order to get back to his unit.
Instead of returning him to his unit they escorted him to the border where they handed him over to the Irish police.
That night he was back in his internment camp, and he remained there until the end of the war.
It appears there was an gentleman's agreement between the two governments.
Perhaps not quite the same as Capt Campbell but strange things happen in wartime when gentlemen are involved

[Old Smelly]

Originally Posted by Nozzer

There was also one in WW2, I understand in 1943. They tried it again, but I am told something went wrong?

Just remembered this paperwork I had in a grouping. Seems that some medical personel were sent home, I believe I read that some very badly wounded PoW wear also returned to UK.
Lee

[BWEF]

The "Daily Mirror" has better copy than the "Daily Mail" which actually has Captain Campbell being "captured in France in July 1914".

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...se-return.html

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by Old Smelly

Just remembered this paperwork I had in a grouping. Seems that some medical personel were sent home, I believe I read that some very badly wounded PoW wear also returned to UK.
Lee

I don't have the references but there are several images in the IWM Photo Library of some of these repatriated ex-PoW on arrival in UK. Those photographed were mostly amputees as I recall. Mike

[fougasse1940]

Not all amputees were repatriated, remember Douglas Bader?

Rgds, Thomas.