Today's Object of the Week is a letter, which has prompted a museum to launch an international search for the family of its writer.
A MUSEUM is on a mission to reunite this letter with its family on its 76th anniversary of being written.
Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum is appealing to the nation and overseas for any information on this family to share the story of a German POW based in North Yorkshire during his captive years.
The letter was discovered by Frank Wood, site and restorations manager at the site in Malton.
He said: “Here at Eden Camp, we are passionate about preserving heritage and telling the stories of those who lived through the war.
“There is nothing more personal than a letter home, so we are appealing to the public to try to help this letter find its family once more.”
The letter was written by a German POW named Hugo Holznagel, held at the ‘Dog & Duck’ Camp no 172 in Norton-in-Malton, who was aiming to reach his mother and son.
The letter has two stamps – a ‘Passed’ stamp, showing it had been through the censorship process, and a blue stamp indicating the Red Cross postal service once sent this letter across the world.
Mr Wood added: “Over the past year, we know how hard it has been not seeing loved ones, so we can only imagine the difficulties faced back then.
“It is our mission to get this letter home and back to its family.”
The letter reads: “My dear Mom and Son! I am still healthy, I have not yet received any mail from you, it will also be of little use that I write to you, because I do not know where you are, but everything is being tried. Greetings, Your Daddy.”
Relatives could write to a POW whenever they wanted, but there were several rules to remember:
* Most POWs in Germany were not allowed to write more than two letters and four
postcards a month;
* Letters to POWs could only be two sides of notepaper – any longer and they would be
delayed or even stopped;
* No information to do with the armed forces or the war effort was allowed – for instance,
which unit someone belonged to, or what special job someone was doing. People were
discouraged from talking about politics or food and rations as well;
* No photographs or drawings could go with the letter. In fact, no enclosures were allowed at
all.
Mr Wood said: “Imagine how difficult it must have been to not mention any of these things, when you were trying to write to a relative and let them know how you and the family were.
“This is exactly why today we are sharing this prisoner’s letter with you.”
If you have any information on the POW’s family, email admin@edencamp.co.uk.
* Eden Camp Modern History Museum is an award-winning museum transporting you back to
wartime Britain to experience the sights, sounds and smells of those dangerous years.
It has been
open for over 30 years and offers a widely varied and unique collection of military paraphernalia,
vehicles, and social history both donated and on loan from members of the public.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here