PoW Camp 88 Mortimer

Mortimer Camp at Stratfield Mortimer is now a cleared field with grass and appears to be part of Little Park Farm. The concrete base and buildings at the edge of the field may have been part of the Camp

Location

The Forehead Stratfield Mortimer, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 2AR

Description

Site Visits

March 2019

Material

DSLR Photos
UK Foreign Office Inspection Report

This site of a what English Heritage report as that of this former PoW Camp is a made up of a large grass field with a small degree of water logging. Entrance to the field is via a farm track that leads to other fields and to Little Park Farm. The inmate entry to the field is via small concrete compound that may date as far back to WWII. This concrete area is divided into three parts. The 1st part to the extreme left is a small multi bay wooden structure used to store farming equipment. Next there is a similar multi bay structure used to store equipment but made of breeze blocks. The largest part of the compound is a free space on the concrete.

One interesting feature and to be noted as a reflection on modern society is that the wide entrance to the field itself is blocked by multi part harrow or roller that appears to have been placed there to prevent vehicle trespass into the field. The field itself is unremarkable and is a clear empty space with no traces of the presences of the former PoW Camp other than the concrete entrance was and a small amount of rubble


Camera Images of the site of former PoW Camp 88 Mortimer


Extracts from UK Foreign Office Inspection Report from UK National Archives Kew:

FO 939-168 PoW Camp 88 Mortimer – Inspection Reports
FO 1120/183 PoW Camp List 20Feb47 – Inc Camp 88