While the horrors of the First World War are well-known, a new trove of pictures lifts the lid on another side of the conflict - the life of luxury enjoyed by some including British prisoners kept in German POW camps. Here, and officer is pictured in his room which includes a quilted bed, writing desk, and wardrobe to keep his things tidied away
Daily Mail: When being captured was a Great Escape! Photographs reveal how World War One prisoners enjoyed a life of luxury in German POW camp compared to life in the trenches
* Lieutenant Charles Mayo, from London, was captured after being shot in the thigh fighting in Belgium in 1915
* He was taken to an officer's hospital before spending time in two German camps until his release in 1917
* Lt Mayo documented the relaxed life in the camp, including amateur dramatic shows and games of football
* Officers even had an agreement with guards and were allowed to leave - provided they came back at night
From the rat-infested trenches to the constant shelling and threat of poison gas, the horrors troops endured during the First World War are well known.
What is less well-known is the relative life of luxury enjoyed by some away from the front lines, even after being taken prisoner by the enemy.
A fascinating archive of pictures taken by British Lieutenant Charles Mayo documents the very civilised lifestyle inside two German POW camps.
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WNU Editor: It was a different time then.
1 comment:
It wasn't so for the Enlisted Men, my Great Uncle was a PW in WW1 taken at Mount Sorrel, in June 1916, he escaped in November 1916 got to Holland. From what I was told the Rankers were on minimum food and were cold all the time,like in every army are the bloody officers get special treatment, I guess the reason so few Officers Escaped in WW1 was because of this special treatment, it was a hushed up scandal.
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