Prisoner of war camp a 'huge part' of Essex's history
A building in PoW Camp 116. Picture: Will Durrant - Credit: Archant
An engineer has described a World War II-era Prisoner of War camp in Hatfield Heath as a "huge part" of his heritage.
Owen Clarke's grandfather Werner Presch was moved to the camp, which became an Uttlesford "heritage asset" last Thursday (April 22), in 1946 before starting a family in England.
Werner, then a boy from Teiche, near Halle, was conscripted into the German military aged 17, in August 1944, but was captured four months later in Brugge, Belgium.
He was moved to France and England before being put to work at Camp McCain in Mississippi, USA.
Werner Presch's scrapbook. It is thought these pictures were taken in the USA - Credit: Owen Clarke
During WWII, Werner kept a small diary, writing one or two words each day to remind him of where he had been.
He also received letters from his family.
"Where is your mail? We haven’t heard from you in three months!", one demanded.
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A reply, received 10 days later, proves Werner had been moved back to England, where he arrived on April 28, 1946.
Werner Presch in Prisoner of War Camp 116 - Credit: Owen Clarke
Owen said: "His parents didn’t believe he was alive, they had missed three of his birthdays in which they placed his picture at the end of the table and made his favourite food, and cherry cake."
In England, Werner spent time in Prisoner of War Camp 30 in Stratford, then in Essex, before he was moved to Camp 116 in Hatfield Heath.
Prisoner of War Camp 116 at Hatfield Heath. Picture: Will Durrant - Credit: Archant
Owen said: "During his time at Camp 116 he had a few pictures of him and the local farm animals, for example the geese which he loved."
When he was discharged, Werner stayed in England, meeting his wife on a blind date in London in 1952.
Werner Presch's scrapbook, with images of Werner in Hatfield Heath - Credit: Owen Clarke
He died when Owen was five, but the camp remains a permanent reminder of his Werner’s arrival in England.
The camp is not a listed building, but as one of 60 new Locally Listed Heritage Assets in Uttlesford, its preservation should be considered in planning applications from now on.
Werner Presch's diary - Credit: Owen Clarke
Owen said: "The camp is of great value not only to me at a personal level, but also to the community.
"Not only did prisoners start their journeys in England here, but it also gave them a light at the end of a tunnel."
