A GERMAN POW MARRIES A LOCAL GIRL
Helmut Guettler
In 1947,
new legislation allowed POWs to venture outside of the camps, work on nearby
farms and fraternise with locals. One such relationship between a Helmut Guettler
(A German Navy Corporal held at Island Farm 1946 - 1948) and Zena Pickering
led to a marriage on the 31st January 1948. (Note the card spells his name
Helmut but the marriage certificate spells it Helmuth).
I personally, am surprised that society permitted such relationships. The
newly weds would have settled down to live in a street where neighbours would
have lost fathers, brothers, cousins and loved ones etc and here was a local
girl marrying an "enemy". Perhaps people had had enough of
the war and were only too keen to forgive and forget....
CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO ENLARGE
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Helmut
Guettler - back row far left of photo.
Photo taken in 1946 on the camp football pitch. These men were all employed as cooks or mess orderlies to the generals |
Helmut
Guettler standing in for himself 42 years later (1988)
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Below is
the hand made wedding card signed by Feldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt !
The Wedding: 31st January 1948
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Rundstedt General-Feldmarschall Mrs and Mrs Helmut Guettler Ne Pickering 21 Bryncoch Road, Sarn Nr Bridgend |
LEFT SIDE: On
the day of your wedding our very best wishesfor a long life full of
happiness and good companionship |
RIGHT:
Günter
Koball |
Those who signed the card (left) Back
Row: |
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Wedding photo
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Copy of Marriage Certificate (Helmut Guettler)
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