Episode 02: “Walking A Mile In Harry’s Shoes”

In Episode 02 Megan visits the crumbling, 75-year-old ruins of two of the four stalags (prison camps) her grandfather Corporal Harry Spencer – Prisoner No. 91985 – was held in, in Germany, between 1941-1945.

The first, Stalag VII-A, is in Moosburg in Germany’s south. The other, Stalag XI-B/357 in Fallingbostel, is in the north. They were two of Germany’s biggest prisoner of war (POW) camps during the war, each housing thousands of prisoners from all over the world.

With the help of locals, family members, military historians and narration from Harry’s handwritten memoirs, Megan dives deep into her grandfather’s POW experience, re-imagining it ‘in situ’ and ‘on site’. It is a highly emotional journey – one that, as she finds out, is only just beginning…

Full episode credits

Episode 02 released 25 February, 2019. Duration: 58:08

‘From A Whisper To A Bang!’ is written, produced and presented by Megan Spencer for the Australian War Memorial.

Film:

Sons of the Anzac (1939-1943).
AWM Accession Number: F00188

Sound:

Joseph Benedict Chifley, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia announces the end of the Second World War in the Pacific with the surrender of Japan, August 1945.
AWM Accession Number: S00106

Speakers: 

Actors:

Heath Bigg and Corwyn Berry

Music:

Additional Music:

Additional Sound:

Jeremy Conlon

Mastering:

Kris Keogh

Acknowledgements:

Red Cross Cinema Advertisement audio: “The Prisoner of War Adoption Scheme”, 1941, courtesy of the NFSA. Watch it

Thank you:

  • Stalag Moosburg Association
  • Kevin Greenhalgh (Fallingbostel Military Museum)
  • Dr. Wolfgang Brandes (City Archives, Bad Fallingbostel)
  • Gaga Music and Xylouris White
  • The Australian War Memorial: Amanda Dennett, Andy Heaney, the DEX team; the Military History team; Daniel Eisenberg.
  • Siobhan Dee
  • Nicky Kasnaxis and the Spencer family
  • Everyone who contributed to this episode.

View:

A collection of Harry’s photos taken in Stalag VII-A, Moosburg in 1941, on the AWM website.

Listen:

To Prime Minister Ben Chifley announcing the end of the Second World War in 1945 on the AWM website.

Visit:

Watch:

From A Whisper To A Bang! trailer

Read:

Or click here for full episode credits and additional information.