Label
Leather football associated with the First World War experiences of Major J W Shaw as a prisoner of war in Holzminden Camp, Germany. The football, signed by other British officer prisoners, was presented in November 1918 to Major Shaw, who as Honorary Secretary of the camp football competitions, organised games between prisoners which were played on the Gravel Spielplatz. Only nine-a-side matches could be played on the cramped space available, and these were held 'under F.A. Rules so far as they applied'. Though food was very short such games helped officers and orderlies to keep fit, despite the attentions of the Commandant who often stopped or prevented these games when he felt like it. Many of the footballs arrived via Holland. During the First World War Major Shaw served with 2nd King Edward's Horse, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Royal Flying Corps. He was taken prisoner at Messines in 1917 and held at Freiburg. He escaped from this camp and when recaptured was imprisoned in Holzminden POW camp. While there he assisted in the construction of the famous 'Holzminden Tunnel' through which 29 officers escaped. Major Shaw was the 31st in the queue and the tunnel subsided and collapsed on the man in front. During the Second World War he served as Assistant Military Liaison Officer, No 6 (Southern) Region, Reading December 1939-August 1945.
History note
This football was signed by the British Officers Prisoners-Of-War Camp in Holzminden Gefangenenlager (Germany) in November 1918, and was presented to Major J W Shaw R.F.C., HON. SEC. of the football competitions held there among the prisoners and played on the Gravel Spielplatz. Such footballs arrived through Holland. Only nine-a-side could be played on the cramped space available, and were 'under F.A. Rules so far as they applied'. The Commandant often stopped or prevented these games when he felt like it. They helped officers and orderlies to keep fit, though food was very short. See file for history of Shaw's capture and escape attempts. Marked.
Physical description
football made from eight shaped panels of brown leather stitched together. The ball bears the following handwritten inscription: 'BRITISH OFFICERS PRISONERS OF WAR CAMP. 1918. HOLZMINDEN. GERMANY. FOOTBALL CLUB SIGNATURE BALL.', which is enclosed by the signatures of Holzminden POWs.
Manuscript
signatures
Comments (0)
Comments are the user's own and in no-way express the opinion of the IWM. Read our community policy for more details.
Add a commentAdd a comment
Please stay polite and on-topic: