Eaglemoss Military Watches Collection.
MWC 79 - 1940s British Prisoners of War
by
, Feb 15, 2017 at 06:23 PM (11696 Views)
Name, Rank and Military Number. The Geneva Convention attempts to ensure the basic rights of prisoners on all sides of any conflict, German POW camps during WW2 were carefully segregated into Officer, NCO ranks and lower-rank servicemen. They also kept the different forces, Army, Navy and Airforce, separated into different camps.
The camps themselves would usually have Senior Officer or NCO who would be responsible for negotiating conditions of daily life in the camp with the German Senior staff, and the prisoners Red Cross liaison.
Conditions across the camps varied but were usually basic, as were the food rations, these were supplemented by Red Cross parcels made up from donations from across the world, nothing was allowed to be wasted and prisoners became experts in recycling.
Switzerland's neutrality during WW2 meant that the access allowed the International Red Cross also extended to Swiss companies, and men like Hans Wilsdorf, the then Managing Director of Rolex. In a gesture to raise the morale of the POWs, he offered a Rolex watch to thousands if they would just write and request one. The watch would be provided, with the invoice to be paid only after the war was over. Many opted for the Oyster Speed King, and today any documented POW Rolex is highly valued.
Case
Polished 30mm case, 32.3mm with crown, 8mm deep, 35.5mm Lug to Lug, 14mm lug width.
Interior diameter 27.3mm, 6.2mm deep, 4.5mm crown, 27mm flat glass,
Dial
"Aged" cream Dial with a black minute scale at the outside edge numbered at 5-minute intervals. Even numbered Hours indicated in Orange Arabic numerals, Odd hours are marked with orange triangles.
Black hour and minute hands, sword style with orange Infill, and a slim black seconds hand.
Strap
Brown PU leather strap 14mm at the lug, narrows to a 12mm polished buckle, approx. fitting 165/210mm