Marrinup: A cage in the bush. No. 16 POW Camp. Kaefig im wald. Una gabbia nella boscaglia.
By Ernie Polis.
ISBN 978-0-85905-926-8, (New, 2020), A4, 252 pages, heavily illustrated, indexed, French flap soft cover, 1.1kg $60.00* [Postage for a single book will be $12.75. Express $16.25. Multiple or bulk orders will be quoted for before payment.]
The detailed story of the No 16 POW Camp at Marrinup, near Dwellingup, which held thousands of Italian and German POW during WWII. The full history of the camp from 1943 to 1946 together with much personal detail on both the prisoners and the guards with statistics and anecdotes.
A book such as this is to be welcomed as the camp has remained little known to the wider public. The Harvey civilian internment camp being relatively well known.
One of the many highlights are the photos taken by a German POW on his secret Leica camera. The book is the result of some decades of dedicated work by Ernie Polis, an officer in the Australian Army Reserve and in civilian life a cartographer and ranger. Ernie’s parents were Latvian displaced persons after WWII, his background creating a great interest in military history. He is now retired and is president of the Historic and Antique Firearm Research Association.