How pain runs even with the sun
Sleeps not with the insane moon
Raves even in the windy groves
Will dance a fiendish rigadoon
To ecstasy of minds at ease…
War Log Archive
Page 24
Page 25
“To the liberated” (Feb ’45)
“Farewell”! said he who hung his head
I go where air is breathed by violets
And clean the silver bark of trees
And tint of pendant rose & red…
Page 26
H POW Threnody (Nov ’44)
Your letter came upon a silver day
With frost upon the crusted way
That flung white drops across the wire
But even tired fatalists acquire…
Page 27
Bomber Command
Then outward bound they set
Those Vikings of a new born age
To write fresh deeds of valour with crystal pen on history’s deathless page
In silver galleons they set out, strange ships and wondrous men are these
Who plumed the unknown starlit depths of God’s celestial seas…
Page 28
Drawing
Page 29
The navy of the skies sail on! Their decks awash with cloud
Swift galleons of celestial seas of whom we’re justly proud
Stern guardians of our Empire’s heart patrolling high above
Determined that no harm befall those that we dearly love
How proudly do they sail these ships out o’er the azure blue…
Page 30
Hut Impression
Stalag IVB
Page 31
Main Gate
Stalag IVB 23rd April 1945
Page 32
Dear David
It is a pleasure to put a little something in your log book. The above caricature complete with beard will certainly bring back pleasant memories for you as it does me. “The man who came to dinner” will always be something to look back on amidst the unpleasant days of POW life, as an achievement by you – I thought it was a great piece of acting on your part & it gave me great pleasure to work under you. I am also not forgetting the “Petrified Forest” which was your first attempt at a POW production. I enjoyed every performance Dave. I wish you every success in the future & hope that we meet some day in civil street, where we will no doubt try a few “Jefferson Specials”
Good Luck Old Boy, Yours sincerely, Nat Hoffman
Page 33
Dear Dave
The first time I saw you, you were a movie cowboy in “Boy meets Girl” and then of course there was your grand performance in “The Man who came to dinner” but I should like to say that your finest piece of work was your production of “Petrified Forest”. The latter show was my favourite and the only one I saw for a second time.
Thanks awfully for all the work you have done for your fellow POWs and I hope I have the pleasure of our having an old chin wag soon back in “Town”. All the very best to you Dave and success in the future.
Yours very sincerely
Bill Rae
Page 34
“For honour and for her”
Somewhere a woman thrusting fear away
Faces the future bravely for your sake
Toils on from dawn till dark from day today
Fights back her tears, nor heeds the bitter ache
She loves you, trusts you, breathes in prayer your name
Soil not her faith in you by sin or shame…
Page 35
The Goddard “Turbo Blower” (patented)
Whole unit detachable. Boils 2 pints of water in 50 secs. Oven lined with fire-clay.
R Goddard
We used this apparatus when the only stove didn’t function. Much more economic on fuel!
Page 36
David’s Mother (Gwen) and [Tiny (Powell)
Tiny Powell and those that didn’t get away!
[Tiny was Gwen’s second husband, these photos probably in Tanganyika, I believe he was employed in the telecoms industry]
Goldie (unknown, but photo of David below appears a close likeness so this may have been a done in camp as an escape ruse)
Sebastien
David
Page 37
Photos of Beatrice, now lost.
I carried this one in my pocket on our last trip, hence the scar. — Sent while POW
Page 38
Helga, R
One of our Danish policemen friends. Spent most of his time in Buchenwald before coming to Stalag IVB. They had a far rougher time than us since they were all hostages taken as reprisals for sabotage committed in Copenhagen.
Page 39
Cast list
“Let’s Rae’s A Laugh”
Page 39a
(16) Bill Rae will buy the theatre lock, stock and barrel, “especially the barrel!”…
Page 40
“Outward Bound” (CADS)
“Music in the cage” M&V
Page 41
The Man Who Came To Dinner
Moss Hart & Geo S Kauffman
Page 41a
Nat Hoffman (as understudy)
Dave Cleary as Sheridan Whiteside
Signed 8/7/44
Stalag IVB, Muhlberg on Elbe, Germany
