German Prisoner of War Camp Dorchester

Grove Trading Estate was formerly home to one the largest World War One German Prisoner of War Camps in the country. At it's peak it housed over 4,500 prisoners at a time when Dorchester's population was only 9,000. initially housed in building of the Royal Horse Artillery Barracks, as the numbers grew there were housed in tent until a hutted camp was built. The Camp was in use from 1914 when it first housed Germans who were interned in Britain until 1919 when it also held German Servicemen. There were deaths in the camp, mainly from the Spanish Flu epidemic and these personnel were initially buried in Fordington Cemetery until the 1960's when they were moved to Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery. A memorial to these men was placed in Fordington Cemetery.

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Source

• Text: Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward