I think this is likely to be a long shot, but any help is greatly appreciated.
My Great Great Grandfather served with the 4th "Queens Own" Hussars in the First World War and was captured by the Germans sometime around early October 1914, very early into the war. I have done fairly extensive research into his regiment's exploits - mainly a combination of following his regimental diary and guesswork - and have hit upon a problem.
I know for a fact that for the majority of his life as a POW, he was kept in Doberitz - which I believe to be a fairly common occurrence for captured Privates. My problem is that I have a first-hand account of My ancestor's in which he describes the treatment of him and his fellow prisoners in a German reprisal camp near Riga then in Russia, called "Larchen". He says that he was there from Feb 10th 1917 to Jun 10th 1917. I can find absolutely nothing about this camp. The internet has revealed absolutely nothing and any list of German camps that I have found seem to be devoid of any information about individual reprisal camps. I understand that this is likely due to the fact that most of these camps were hastily put together to house the prisoners before they were sent to the front lines to do hard labour, but even so, there must be information out there.
The treatment that my ancestor and his five hundred other companions endured at this camp shouldn't be forgotten. As far as I am aware, many people would have died there and my ancestor was in such bad shape when he was released that he was deemed "unfit for military service".
If anyone could provide any information about this camp, I would be most grateful. Preserving my ancestors history is vitally important to me.
Thank you for reading.
Here's the first hand account for those interested:
"On the 10th of February the Germans by way of reprisal moved me and other prisoners to a place called Larchen, near Riga in Russia. We were driven on foot by Uhlans to Larchen along the river Aa through deep snow, and arrived at Larchen about six in the evening. On the way, the Uhlans pierced the necks of some of the prisoners with their Lances. I remained at Larchen until 10th June 1917. There were about 500 prisoners there (all British). The Commandant there was a lieutenent in the Jager regiment named Prall. There was no second in command.
Prall was very brutal to the prisoners. On one occasion when I was at work with other sick men in the sentry's quarters, and was struggling to pick up a piece of bread, he kicked me several times till I fell to the ground. On another occasion, when a German sentry was going to help a prisoner by lifting a sack onto his back, I saw Prall pull out his revolver and heard him threaten the sentry that he would shoot him if he helped the "dirty dogs".
The prisoners were lodged in large marquee and slept on wire netting. There were two very small stoves for heating, but they were not allowed to remain alight after dark. There were no conveniences for washing or sanitary arrangements, and prisoners were compelled to use snow for washing and drinking. Prisoners were employed in making trenches, for which they were paid 3d, each per day. They had to work in the first and second lines with pick and shovel from 6 in the morning till half past 4 in the after-noon without an interval. No attempt was made to force me or other prisoners to make munitions.
The food supplied by the Germans consisted of 150 grammes of bad green bread and a litre of water soup a day. there was no canteen, and no food arrived from England or abroad. The Germans did not supply any clothing. It was asked for but refused. There was no recreation whatever, and smoking was prohibited. There was an epidemic (some hitherto unknown fever apparently caused by starvation and exposure). I was never in the camp hospital there.
No letters, and until the beginning of June 1917, no parcels were received. They were all stopped. Prisoners, however, were allowed to write as often as they liked. Machine guns were mounted in an old shed opposite the marquee where the prisoners were lodged, and anyone who ventured out after 6 in the evening was shot dead. The only improvement during my detention in the treatment of prisoners was that during the last week of such detention, they were allowed to receive parcels."