Lance Sergeant Harry Hawthorne served in the 5th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borders during World War II. He was made a prisoner of War in early February 1945 and released by British troops on 2 May 1945. This small collection contains some correspondence and several manuscript and typescript extracts from his diary, which provide an insight into his experiences during the war.

Contains the following:

1. Letter from Major A.D. Macdonald, C.C. D. Company, 5th Battalion, K.O.S.B. B.L.A. addressed to L/Sgt. H. Hawthorne’s mother concerning her son’s disappearance in action and the possibility that he had been made a prisoner of war by the Germans. 4 February 1945, 1 folio.

2. Letter from Leonard J. Hawthorne addressed to Major A.D. Macdonald, C.C.D. Company, 5th Battalion, K.O.S.B. regarding L/Sgt. Harry Hawthorne’s safety and confirming that he had been made a prisoner of war by the German army and was staying at Stalag X1 B. 17 April 1945, 1 folio.

3. Draft manuscript notes and extracts from L/Sgt. Hawthorne’s diary The Long, Long March to Nowhere containing Harry Hawthorne’s experiences as a prisoner of war from Friday 6th April until his return to Scotland on Saturday 12th May 1945. Undated, [circa 1980-1989], 11 folios.

4. Typescript war memories of L/Sgt Harry Hawthorne. Undated, 15 folios. Includes:

No Medals for the Sergeant

Storm the Beaches: a Story with a Grim Beginning and a Bizarre Ending

Life in a Prisoner-of-War Camp: Early Memories

Sergeant: There is a Bun in the Oven

Journey into Captivity: Phase Two ‘Three Day Excursion from Dusseldorf to Hannover’ No Tickets Required

I Make a New Acquaintance: Daisy

A Bad Embarrassment: Amidst a Battle or ‘Donald, Where’s Your Troosers?’

Is That the Death Cart Rumbling By?

Journey into Captivity

Miscellaneous Memories of Life in a Prisoner-of-War Camp

Money is No Good to You Here, Mate