Arthur Burkett's Diaries

This is an extraordinary diary of Arthur Burkett, an ordinary British Soldier and Prisoner of War during the Lamsdorf Death March. For four months, 100,000 Allied POWs were marched across Germany and away from the approaching Russian forces sometimes marching over 40 kilometres (25 miles) per day. Arthur's story gives a terrifying insight into the daily struggle of the POWs from freezing temperatures, hunger, exhaustion and health problems. This story gives Arthur's first-hand account of where he went, who he met and what he saw. It shows the courage of men, kindness of civilians and the brutality of war in the constant effort to survive. It covers his daily life as a POW before the March and during some of his three years in captivity. We therefore invite you to read the memoirs of POW number 220660, a normal 22 year old from Walthamstow called up to fight in the Second World War.