Book Kept by Lt Ian Douglas, 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada during his period as a POW at Oflag VA in Weinsberg, Germany.

The book has a cloth hard cover in olive green, 17.3cm by 12cm and 2cm thick. On the front cover in red printing is “A Wartime Log” with a lion passant, guardant above the letters. On the frontispiece inside a red rectangular border in green lettering are: “A Wartime Log for British Prisoners” and at the bottom “Gift from The War Prisoners’ Aid of the Y.M.C.A.  37, Quai Wilson, Geneva – Switzerland”. Pages are numbered in green at the top exterior corner from 1 to 113. Before the numbered pages are: a name page with a red rectangular border and inside a lion rampant guardant above “This book belongs to”. In ink “Lieut. James Ian Douglas, P.O.W. 3225/36. Canadian Army Overseas.” Below in green triangle with Y.M.C.A. across it in red letters boxed. In the pages that follow are:

1. 10 B&W photos of the cast on stage for the play “Grouse in March”, enacted in June 1944, with names of Officers in the cast on several photos. (Pages 1 to 19)
2. 3 B&W photos of the cast of the play “You Can’t Take It With You” enacted in October 344 and the program for the play on beige paper – (Pages 25 to 33)
3. Photo with names of the officers in Room 12, Bungalow 36
4. Photos of “Cabaret Balalaika ” , “Hey Taxi, Traffic Blues, Underground” of  musicians, officers at table and dancing. (Two photos affixed, 4 loose – Pages 36 and 37″
5. A poem, Casey at the Bat, modified to fit the POW camp and events. Casey here refers to Lt Casey Corbett, 48th Highlanders also a POW”. “Dedicated to Casey Corbett by Neil McPhail and the kiwis of Bungalow 13. 27 august 1944” in ink on the back.
6. Two Watercolour drawings of characters in The Mikado plus a B&W photo of the cast. (pages 29 to 41)
7. B&W caricatures in black ink of officers in Room 12. (pages 44 to 48)
8. A Watercolour drawing of a British Biplane, No 1 Squadron R.F.D. – “A” Block Holzminden, Oct 17 – Nov 16.”
9. A watercolour drawing of two officers  in khaki uniform. Followed by the words/Songs of the play Hey Taxi (pages 50 to 52)
10. Pen and ink drawing of “The Schloss ” Weinsberg (Page 53)
11. a. Water colour drawings of characters in costume for “Cabaret Balalaika”, “Home and Beauty”, “Grouse in June” and “Black Pepper”. b. Pencil drawing of Fort Bismark; c. Ink drawing of View from Oflag VA; d. two watercolours of officer with rifle and officer riding to hounds; e. Drawings – 1 in pencil, 5 in watercolour of women’s costumes for “Blue Room”, “You can’t take it with you”, “Spot of Bother’ and the program for “Spot of Bother” dated January 1945.  (Page 55 insert of 13 Pages in heavier paper)
12. Comparison and use of Canadian and English Red Cross Parcels, with drawings of food items contained. (Pages 56 and 57)
13. Three photos with names of “The Modernaires” and cast of “Once A Crook”. (Pages 58 to 60)
14. Drawings of an officer (Lt Douglas) “Preparing to be a Beautiful Lady” for a play and costumes for “Maison Y’Skulkin”(Page 61 to 63)
15. Photos of the cast of “Hame” 9 Pages 64 to 67)Menu and Music for Christmas Dinner at OFlag V A Weinsburg Germany.
16. Poem “These Foolish Things” rewritten to commemorate camp plays. (Pages 78 and 79)
17. Listing of wine types, their taste and bouquet and best years. (Pages 87 to 92)
18. Breakfast menu elements, handwritten. Page 93
19. Personal notes re “What to get Phillis Mary?” and Where to go for them once home. (page 94)
20. Names of Officers in Camp, some with addresses. Drawings of regimental cap badges with signatures of officers of those regiments. (Pages 96 to 110)
21. Personal notes: “People for whom to get presents”, “Books to Get”, “Things I want”. (Page 111 to end piece).

In small beige envelope at back cover: 3 photos of POWs –  3225 Dick Findlay, 2nd Gordons, 3227 Skipper Palmer, 3060 Logan Edgar, Seaforths Captured with me. Coloured heart inscribed inside “Weinsberg 18 Feb 1945; Hamburgers Canuck, Duff Jean, Sauce B, Cake a la Bev, Biscuit de ‘Phyl”.

The log and its contents are available only to Museum staff for research re Lt Douglas’ location or activities. Other researchers require the Curator’s permission and exclude any publication or article about POW experiences. These are only available with permission of Lt Douglas’ daughters and the Museum curator’s concurrence.