News-Info-Alerts

Re: Nurse-POWs Camp Collection Goes to Museum

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: April 06, 2002

"EX-POW: Margaret Wanklyn

ONE woman's experiences in a Second World War internment camp are to form a powerful display at the Imperial War Museum North.

Museum staff were amazed by Margaret Wanklyn's possessions and experiences from her time at Stanley Camp in Hong Kong between 1942-1945.

The centrepiece of the display will be a stunning white kimono, which Margaret made there from a hospital sheet. She embroidered it with the names of about 60 friends she made in captivity by getting them to sign the kimono and then embroidering over their writing.

Margaret, who lives in Didsbury, also kept detailed diaries of her time at the camp. "The one thing I remember clearly is the hunger," said Margaret.

"We lived on two bowls of rice a day." Margaret had journeyed to the British colony of Hong Kong before the war to work as a nursing sister.

In 1942, she and others from countries at war with Japan were rounded up and taken to Stanley Camp. She remained there until August 1945 when the internees were rescued by the British.

Margaret's items will be displayed in the "experience silo" at the museum - one of six areas, which will deal with different aspects of war."