Imagine being a prisoner in the woods of northern Ontario or Manitoba* on a lake in the summer. Doesn’t sound all that bad, as prisons go – though I imagine the bugs were pretty nasty at times.
In the Henderson Homefront Collection, since transferred to the Royal Alberta Museum, there is a piece of a dugout canoe made by prisoners. Bob Henderson, please correct me if I’m wrong on this, but I assume this was made for fishing and recreation. It would never be an escape vehicle – too clunky, cumbersome, and slow.
Making the canoe was probably just as much fun as going out in it. It’s the sort of thing we learned about in Social Studies way back in grade 4. I believe the traditional way is to pick a good-sized log, strip off the bark, and then use hot coals to burn out the inside so you have a place to sit. After that, with hatchets, knives, adzes, whatever you have, you would taper the ends and clean out the cavity.
Paddling something like this would be the aquatic equivalent to pushing one of those supermarket grocery carts with a locked wheel – you know, the ones that should have had a little maintenance but got missed last time round. They take you from A to B but it’s way more fun to stand still and enjoy the view.
It’s just one more example of ingenuity and craftsmanship, and what people can do when they have time and basic tools.
I wonder if Bob has any paddles.
*In the original version of this post, I said “Ontario”. I’ve changed it to “Ontario or Manitoba” as I now know for sure they had such canoes in Manitoba, and I’m speculating they had them in Ontario, but I don’t know that for sure.
A remnant of a canoe made by German prisoners of war, and a photo of the boat in better times.
Remember, Bob Henderson is still actively collecting! If you want to get in touch with him please do. You can email him at homefront @ sasktel.net. Do not leave any spaces in the address – I just did that to stop robots from spamming Mr. Henderson.
The challenge of making a ship in a bottle is something that has fascinated me ever since I saw one when I was a child.
That early ship was in a fancier bottle than this humble medicine (?) bottle but the prisoners of war obviously used whatever they could scrounge. It’s amazing what they could create from humble materials.
This one has a more striking backdrop than many, and it’s enlivened by the little castle on the hill behind.
Prisoners of war practiced their skills making tricky objects like ships in bottles
Remember, Bob Henderson is still actively collecting! If you want to get in touch with him please do. You can email him at homefront @ sasktel.net. Do not leave any spaces in the address – I just did that to stop robots from spamming Mr. Henderson.
Hello! This is a short post based on the Henderson Collection of artifacts and documents about German Prisoners of War in Canada during the Second World War, and the Veterans Guard of Canada who looked after them. Bob Henderson is … Continue reading →
This new slideshow features one of the many stunning items in the Henderson collection. This piece now belongs to the Royal Alberta Museum.
It’s a larger-than-life painting of a German soldier, with an Everyman look in his eye.
Bob’s story of the painting is intriguing, and we hope you enjoy it.
This is one of our slideshows of items from the Henderson Collection of artifacts and documents about German Prisoners of War in Canada during the Second World War, and the Veterans Guard of Canada who looked after them.
Bob Henderson is still actively collecting! If you want to get in touch with him please do. You can email him at homefront @ sasktel.net. Do not leave any spaces in the address – I just did that to stop robots from spamming Mr. Henderson.
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I hope you like this short video from the Henderson Collection.
If you have information or items related to the German Prisoners of War in Canada or the Veterans Guard of Canada, please do get in touch with Bob.
RObert Henderson’s story of georg Hoegel
Georg Hoegel served in the German Submarine Service as a Radio Operator, and was captured off the U-110 on 9 May 1941. A sample of the Top Secret “Enigma” Coding machine was also removed from the U-boat, so the surviving crew members were held incognito for seven months as part of the amazing capture that would change the course of the war.
Hoegel and his crew mates were transferred from England to Monteith, Ontario, Canada, where he produced a prolific volume of art work of local flora and fauna, other PoW, etc. His art work was so popular, that the Commanding Officer had his St. Bernard dog taken from Port Arthur to Monteith via taxi, so Hoegel could paint a picture of it. The location of this is unknown to the writer.
I first heard of a large painting of a German soldier while talking to a visiting guest speaker after a meeting of the Regina Archeological Association in 1994. After the meeting, a small group of us were discussing our collecting interests, and she commented that she knew of a large PoW painting in Saskatoon owned by a family named Caldwell.
On my next visit to Saskatoon, I inquired through my local friends, and one knew the Caldwell family very well, so I was able to obtain the appropriate address and telephone number to make contact. I drove to the residence, and knocked, introducing myself to Mr. Caldwell, and explaining that I was a collector of PoW memorabilia.
My timing was not good, as Mr. Caldwell had a business engagement pending, but he took the time to tell me about the painting. It had hung in Medicine Hat PoW Camp 132 with another large painting during the time that his father, a Canadian Military Doctor, had served at the PoW Camp. When the war ended, this picture had been sent through the mail to Dr. Caldwell’s home.
The painting was too large to display in Dr. Caldwell’s office or residence, so it had been placed in storage since the war at a separate location. Mr. Caldwell explained that he had offered the item to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, but they had never replied to his letter.
My time ran out as Mr. Caldwell had to depart, so it was back to Regina with information and hope that something might develop in the form of
a acquisition.
At a later date, I was attending a gun show in Saskatoon, and I telephoned Mr. Caldwell, again explaining who I was, and he recalled my earlier visit. At that time, I made an cash offer for the painting, sight unseen, and to my utter amazement, Mr. Caldwell accepted. He told me the location of the stored painting, and we agreed to meet there at a specified time. Fortunately, my son-in-law was also attending the gun show, and he was driving a large van, capable of taking a very large painting back to Regina.
He and I drove to the address and found a rickety old, unlocked vehicle shed. In the rafters, face up, with lawn chairs thrown over it, was a painting. We pulled it down, disturbing bird nests, but I was amazed to see a solitary soldier with a machine gun slung over one shoulder, on a 4 ft. by 8 ft. painting. We loaded it into the van, at which time Mr. Caldwell arrived. I explained that we had arrived on time, located the painting, had loaded it up, and here was his cash. A handshake followed, and we were on our way. You can’t imagine the ecstasy I was feeling!
On arriving home, I placed the painting on saw horses in the basement, telephoned a Museum Curator friend of mine, and explained the overall condition and filth coating the surface, which included bird droppings. Within a day he gave me a cleaning solution, suggesting I use cotton balls. The result is as you see it – a few minor blemishes that only enhance the overall appearance.
In 1993, I published a book, “German Prisoners Of War In Canada And Their Artifacts”. In 1994, I received a letter from Mr. George Hoegel from Munich, Germany, explaining that he had painted the picture while being a PoW held at Monteith, Ont. Camp 23. It hung in a building along with another of a mother and children, and were marked with a patriotic slogan. Both pieces were later moved with Hoegel to the Medicine Hat PoW Camp 132, where they were again displayed.
In following letters he sent one that he had mailed to his parents from Monteith, explaining that he was gathering material to initiate these painting projects. He also sent a photocopy of another painting showing the two paintings from Monteith hanging in position within the building at Monteith.
We corresponded until failing health precluded him writing further. A final letter to me on 28 December 2013 indicated he was 94 years old.
Mr. Henderson’s notes: On the occasion of transfers or retirement, it was common for personnel of a unit to provide a farewell gift to popular personnel, particularly Officers. This handsome clock with the dedication is a prime example. MACHUM is known to … Continue reading →
Mr. Henderson’s notes: Carved from “Apple Box Wood” (Pine), this wall hanger represents a Luftwaffe Anti-Aircraft Badge. Note that the PoW was obliged to remove the Swastika symbol normally clutched in the eagle’s claws, though the outline remains.
Because bottled ink for fountain pens was widely used, the ink bottle was a common bottle during the war years, readily acquired by PoW – in this case, the bottle became a location to secure a three masted schooner model.
Ship in an ink bottle, made by a prisoner of war (Henderson Homefront Collection)
Mr. Henderson’s notes: This photo album was acquired from a man who had worked with the PoW in Manitoba. Regretfully, the historic photographs enclosed in the album were removed and presumably destroyed. The patience used to collect, cut, organize and produce … Continue reading →
Enclosed are some photos of a scratch built Japanese Fugo Fire Balloon, an area of interest that I’ve had for a long time, and I do have some original pieces of some in the collection. One of a kind model, built by a friend of mine. The balloon is 5″ in diameter. The scale is 1 to 500. Balloons were released from Japan, and used the Trade Winds to bring them across the USA and Canada. Some reached Ontario from the West Coast. Use Google for additional information on the actual use of the “Secret Weapon”.
Modern model of Japanese Fugo fire balloon 1 to 500 scale (Henderson Homefront Collection)
Modern model of Japanese Fugo fire balloon 1 to 500 scale (Henderson Homefront Collection)-2
Modern model of Japanese Fugo fire balloon 1 to 500 scale (Henderson Homefront Collection)-3
This carved wooden photo frame has identifying information carved and written right on it, and there is a typed label as well. Carved on the front: 1939 – 1940; Kananaskis; Seebe Alberta; Camp Written on the back: Heinrich Panz; Waldheim, … Continue reading →
