Diary when a Prisoner of War

Henry Stevenson (Bo) McMaster (TKS 1933-39) POW Diary covered with brown paper. Entitled A Wartime Log for British Prisoners. A gift from the War Prisoners' Aid of the YMCA 37 Quai Wilson Geneva Switzerland. McMaster wrote in blue Pencil AUS 422659 P/O McMaster Suffolk Ave Collaroy Aus on this title page. He was Prisoner 3829 in Stalgluft 1 after being shot down March 22 1944 NE of Trier on a raid to Frankfurt. He arived at Stulagluft 1 Barth 30th July 1944. His POW card with photograph is included. Harry draw cartoons, listed the contents of Red Cross packages, recipes, glued in labels, "theatre stubs" and wrote dirary entries. The entry for the 27th February 1945, his 21st birthday was erased and then written over with the words NOT WORTH WRITING ABOUT EXCEPT FOR THE POTATO BROT AND PRUNE CAKE AND THE LITTLE DROP OF WINE WE MANAGED TO FIND. There are drawings of the camp and small photographs of family, autographs from fellow prisoners and a reference to the Caterpillar Club. A calendar of days in camp, a map of the camp and drawings of his barracks, lists of fellow prisoners and a wish list of gramaphone records he wants. The Russians arrived at the Camp on May 1st but refused to release the prisoners. Two weeks later 13-15 May following the arrival of US troops, the prisoners were evacuated in B17's in "operation Revival, the British (and Commonwealth) serviceman to Britain , the US serviceman to France. From there Harry returned home but on 7th June 1946 he was killed on his motorcycle, colliding with a lorry in Manly not far from home. He was 22.