Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders.
POW Comedy Sketch Shows, Stalag IX-C, Germany
Harry Knox
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Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders.
The date of this portrait photograph is unknown but it is assumed to have been taken in late 1939 as Knox went to France as part of the B.E.F. and was later captured at St. Valery in June 1940.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Thanks must go to Caron Paterson for sending us scans of a large set of incredibly interesting photographs that belonged to her Grandfather, Pte. Harry Knox of the Gordon Highlanders, taken during his time as a P.O.W. at Stalag IXC, Bad Sulza, Germany between 1940 and 1945.
The set includes a number of group photographs of men at Stalag IX-C in a variety of settings including several photos depicting an elaborate evening of 'POW Entertainment' in the form of amateur dramatics and comedy sketchs, conducted in full costumes on a lit outdoor stage.
Pte. Harry Knox appears as 'Stan Laurell' in one of these shots. These photos offer us a unique glimpse of what must have been an evening of fun and laughter that raised spirits.
The precise date of these photos are not known, however, each photograph has been categlogued with a reference number shown in shot.
Unfortunately the story of Knox's eventual liberation from the POW camp is not known. What is known is that he was a Gordon Highlander and in France as part of the B.E.F. in 1940. Knox was captured at St. Valery in June 1940 and remained a POW until sometime in early 1945.
An Army Travel Pass issued on 26th April 1945 places Knox back in England at No. 91 Reception Camp (in Amersham, just Northwest of London) which housed repatriated POWs on their initial arrival back on British soil.
A telegram announcing Harry's imminent arrival into Glagow Central Station was sent to Mrs Knox from nearby Berkhamsted. The date on the telegram is thought to read 8th May 1945 (which would be "VE Day").
Many thanks once again to Caron for sending these scans into us at [email protected].
Harry Knox, May, 1940
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The reverse of this photograph is a postcard on which is written "Taken on Sunday Afternoon, 5-5-1940" with a postal address processed by the Army Post Office B.E.F.
Harry would be captured a few weeks later at St. Valery.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Helen Knox
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Photo of Mrs Helen Knox, Wife of Pte. Harry Knox.
The handwritten annotation reads "With love, from Helen". The photo is believed to have been in Harry's possession throughout his time in Stalag IX-C as a POW between 1940 and 1945.
Credit:
Caron Paterson, Helen and Harry's Daughter.
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Knox Leave Form, 1945
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This "Free leave to travel" form was issued on 26th April 1945 to Pte. Harry Knox whilst at a "Reception Camp" established just outside London, setup to receive men liberated from POW camps by Allied forces.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Knox Telegram
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Pte. Harry Knox sent this telegram home to Mrs Knox announcing his imminent arrival home after more than five years away. The postmark places it on 8th May 1945, VE Day.
The telegram is sent from Berkhamsted, the train station only a few miles from No. 91 Reception Camp at Amersham, where Harry had been stationed after being liberated from a German POW camp by Allied forces.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Photographs from Stalag IX-C
(Early numbers)
Men from Stalag IX-C
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Men from Stalag IX-C POW Camp.
Date unknown. Annotated with No. 1012, making this the earliest of the officially catalogued photos in the collection of photos belonging to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Funeral at Stalag IX-C
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German and British Men attending a funeral.
Date and deceased unknown. Officially annotated with No. 1499, making this one of the earliest in the collection of catalogued photos belonging to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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First set of Christmas Photographs
(Numbered 1748 to 1768)
Harry Knox, Christmas
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This photos includes Pte. Harry Knox, centre, bottom row, sitting behind shield or plaque.
The date is unknown, however, we know it is Christmas time as the pine tree behind the group has Christmas decorations and candles hanging from it.
The photo is annotated with a marker No. 1751 and is part of the officially catalogued photos in the collection belonging to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Knox Boxing Team
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Believed to be of a POW Boxing team from Stalag IX-C.
The date is unknown, however, we know it is Christmas time as the bushes in the background our covered in white frost and the pine tree has Christmas decorations and candles hanging from it.
The photo is annotated with a marker No. 1749 and is part of the officially catalogued photos in the collection belonging to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Stalag IX-C Group Photo
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The date is unknown, however, we know it is Christmas time due to the large Christmas tree in the background.
The photo is annotated with a marker No. 1761 and is part of the officially catalogued photos in the collection belonging to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Robbies Rialto Swingers (Christmas)
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This photo shows men from Stalag IX-C POW Camp forming a Jazz Band called "Robbies Rialto Swingers".
The date is unknown, however, we know it is Christmas time as the bushes in the background our covered in white frost and the pine tree has Christmas decorations and candles hanging from it.
The photo is annotated with a marker No. 1748 and is part of the officially catalogued photos in the collection belonging to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Men Outside Factory
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These are believed to be British POWs from Stalag IX-C.
The photo is annotated with a marker No. 2038 and is part of the officially catalogued photos in the collection belonging to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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POW Christmas Comedy Sketch Show
Lady Blighty (POW Show)
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POW Jazz Band stand from Stalag IX-C, Germany. The centre piece reads "The Yacht Club Boys" on a stage shaped as a ship given the name "Lady Blighty".
The date is unknown. The photo is annotated with a marker No. 2159 and is part of the officially catalogued photos in the collection belonging to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Cowboys & Indians (POW Show)
show infoDescription:
POWs performing a "Cowboys & Indians" sketch on an outdoor stage in Stalag IX-C, Germany.
The date is unknown but the photo is annotated with a marker (No. 2163) and forms part of a series of photos from a night of comedy sketches performed by POWs. The collection belonged to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Cycling Sketch (POW Show)
show infoDescription:
POWs performing a "Cycling" sketch on an outdoor stage in Stalag IX-C, Germany.
The date is unknown but the photo is annotated with a marker (No. 2164) and forms part of a series of photos from a night of comedy sketches performed by POWs. The collection belonged to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Domestic Sketch (POW Show)
show infoDescription:
POWs performing a "Domestic" sketch on an outdoor stage in Stalag IX-C, Germany.
The date is unknown but the photo is annotated with a marker (No. 2176) and forms part of a series of photos from a night of comedy sketches performed by POWs. The collection belonged to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Laurel & Hardy Sketch (POW Show)
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This photo is of Pte. Harry Knox himself playing Stan Laurel in a Laurel & Hardy sketch on an outdoor stage in Stalag IX-C, Germany.
The date is unknown but the photo is annotated with a marker (No. 2177) and forms part of a series of photos from a night of comedy sketches performed by POWs. The collection belonged to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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POW comedy sketches
show infoDescription:
The date is unknown but the photo is annotated with a marker (No. 2179) and forms part of a series of photos from a night of comedy sketches performed by POWs. The collection belonged to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Couples Sketch (POW Show)
show infoDescription:
POWs performing a comedy sketch of couples walking out with POWs playing both Male and Female roles on an outdoor stage in Stalag IX-C, Germany.
The date is unknown but the photo is annotated with a marker (No. 2172) and forms part of a series of photos from a night of comedy sketches performed by POWs. The collection belonged to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Curtain Call (POW Show)
show infoDescription:
This appears to be the second curtain call from an evening of sketchs performed on an outdoor stage in Stalag IX-C, Germany.
The date is unknown but the photo is annotated with a marker (No. 2168) and forms part of a series of photos from a night of comedy sketches performed by POWs. The collection belonged to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945, and appears as Stan Laurel in one of the sketches.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Curtain Call (POW Show)
show infoDescription:
This photo is thought to capture a 'Curtain Call' from a POW show at Stalag IX-C, Germany.
The date is unknown but the photo is annotated with a marker (No. 2167) and forms part of a series of photos from a night of comedy sketches performed by POWs. The collection belonged to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Harry appears within this photo standing directly under the letter 'C', dressed as Stan Laurel. He also appears in a photo of that sketch.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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Curtain Call (POW Show)
show infoDescription:
A curtain call from a comedy sketch night on an outdoor stage in Stalag IX-C, Germany.
The date is unknown but the photo is annotated with a marker (No. 2174) and forms part of a series of photos from a night of comedy sketches performed by POWs. The collection belonged to Pte. Harry Knox, Gordon Highlanders, who was a POW at Stalag IX-C from 1940 - 1945.
Credit:
Thanks to Caron Paterson, Harry's Daughter, for sending this into us.
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