101-0005-023

Interview with Jim Waggott

Jim Waggott tells his story of being captured by a German ship in 1940 while shipping coal to Australia. He describes his journey from a German raider ship, to a camp in German-occupied Bordeaux, to two separate German working camps. Life in Marlag und Milag Nord camp is described in detail. Copy of 101-0015-058

Item

1 Compact Audio Tape

28 Feb 1995

BHAC

English

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Jim Waggott

No

On Side One, Jim Waggott [JW] tells his story of being captured by a German ship in 1940. On 30 November 1940, Waggott’s ship was destroyed by a German ship and the two lifeboats of men who managed to escape were later found by German raiders. JW describes life on the ship with other prisoners in great detail, including details on what the accommodation and food were like on board. JW then tells about being taken to a German camp in Bordeaux. After six weeks, JW and the other sailors were sent on cattle trains to Stalag XB Sandbostel camp in Germany. JW describes the work, food, and people in the camp, as well as a typhus epidemic that went around the camp. Eighteen months later, after neutral American and Swiss Red Cross workers saw the conditions of the camp, they were moved to Marlag und Milag Nord camp. JW tells about John Worsley and the making of ‘Albert RN’ and the many escape attempts made my prisoners at the camp, including the successful escape of David ‘Dicky’ James.

Side Two begins with Jim Waggott [JW] talking about life inside the camps. JW describes how prisoners made radios with crystals and coils they found. JW describes the ways that prisoners kept morale up and spent their time: there was a theatre, orchestra, gambling den, dancing lessons, and education opportunities. JW details the classes available to prisoners and what jobs the men were able to get after they were released, with many becoming doctors, solicitors, and engineers. JW describes the camp’s liberation and the journey back to Wales. [00:25:00] JW discusses the reunions that have been held for the group since 1958 and plans for the 50th Anniversary of their liberation. JW also mentions the book that has been written about the experiences of him and the 3,500 other men. (Thomas Gabe, Milag: Captives of the Kriegsmarine – Merchant Navy Prisoners of War, Publisher: Milag Prisoner of War Association, 1995, ISBN 19780952549802)

Side One: 43 min 40 sec
Side Two: 38 min 57 sec

Yes

Glamorgan Archives and National Library of Wales

Open

UNLW023/22