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Aussies Request Info About Holzminden

The 'kangaroo' is not the only interest we share with our Aussie cousins. Recently, we were approached to assist with background information for a screen play regarding the notorious prisoner of war camp at Holzminden, site of a 'great escape' during the Great War of 1914-18. Researcher, Janelle McCarrick spotted our item about the Royal Flying Corps on our website and contacted the museum.

Janelle is associated with Jacqueline Cook, who is developing a screenplay for a movie based on the escape from Holzminden. They are hoping that any site or person that may have information about anyone who was held at Holzminden will contact them with the details. No doubt they would also be interested if anyone has information on anyone who worked at the camp as well. In addition to being the site of the major prisoner escape of WWI, the camp commander, Kommandant Karl Niemeyer, was particularly noted for his brutality, to the degree that he was subject to a war crimes investigation after the armistice for his treatment of the prisoners in his care.

A photo of the library at Holzminden from Ian Cameron's private collection

Followers of our website will know that the late Ian D. Cameron of St. Thomas transferred from the Canadian Expeditionary Force Transport Division to the Royal Flying Corps in early May 1917. He was shot down in 1918 and spent the remainder of the Great War as a prisoner in the Camp at Holzminden.

Should you have any information that you wish to pass along, you can reach Janelle and Jacqueline at www.facesofholzminden.com

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