An extensive research project examining the life and story of my great uncle Doug, and the five years he spent in a WWII German prisoner of war camp.
Background
The story progresses chronologically through events prior, during and after the war and his imprisonment, through a combination of personal and historical narrative. The personal narrative is told via accounts from members of Doug’s family. These add a layer of intimate insight both to the story and the man behind it. The historical narrative runs in parallel to add an extra context of the experience of war, placed next to a time line that acts as a navigation anchor throughout the book. General war events, war environment and life as a prisoner of war as well as events specific to Doug are described in concise detail in two separate colours. The outcome is a handmade lay flat book. A dust jacket envelops a cloth covered hardback, the title of which is selected from a handwritten poem Doug wrote while incarcerated.
The story progresses chronologically through events prior, during and after the war and his imprisonment, through a combination of personal and historical narrative. The personal narrative is told via accounts from members of Doug’s family. These add a layer of intimate insight both to the story and the man behind it. The historical narrative runs in parallel to add an extra context of the experience of war, placed next to a time line that acts as a navigation anchor throughout the book. General war events, war environment and life as a prisoner of war as well as events specific to Doug are described in concise detail in two separate colours. The outcome is a handmade lay flat book. A dust jacket envelops a cloth covered hardback, the title of which is selected from a handwritten poem Doug wrote while incarcerated.
Job Role
Student (BA)
Student (BA)
Sector
History
History
Design Services
Bookbinding, Book Design, Editorial, Print, Qualitative Research
Bookbinding, Book Design, Editorial, Print, Qualitative Research
Featured in
D&AD New Blood Festival 2017
D&AD New Blood Festival 2017
Process
I chose to maintain a core research focus for this project which helped inform both narratives. The personal was informed by interviews with family members who knew Doug (my grandmother, father, aunt and Doug's three children). The historical was gathered through critical study of books, online journals, published second-hand accounts, museums and archives (e.g. The National Archives, The Imperial War Museum, and The Royal Green Jacket Museum) and an expedition to Poland to visit the remains of the prisoner of war camp, memorial and The Polish Central War Museum.
I chose to maintain a core research focus for this project which helped inform both narratives. The personal was informed by interviews with family members who knew Doug (my grandmother, father, aunt and Doug's three children). The historical was gathered through critical study of books, online journals, published second-hand accounts, museums and archives (e.g. The National Archives, The Imperial War Museum, and The Royal Green Jacket Museum) and an expedition to Poland to visit the remains of the prisoner of war camp, memorial and The Polish Central War Museum.
.
A pull-out map detailing the evacuation route or 'Death March' the POWs from
Stalag 344 had to take late in the war when the Allies were advancing.
Stalag 344 had to take late in the war when the Allies were advancing.
The historical narrative runs down the side.
This is split into general war events/dates (red) and events specific to Doug (blue).
This is split into general war events/dates (red) and events specific to Doug (blue).
Letters from Doug's girlfriend (later wife) and father posted to Doug while incarcerated.
As both were written near the date of the camp's evacuation neither were received.
As both were written near the date of the camp's evacuation neither were received.
Testimonial
"Thank you so much for the book. It is an impressive piece of work…you did my Dad (and all the other POWs who never spoke of “their” war to their families) very proud. He would have been truly overwhelmed."
Denise Fuller
Doug's eldest daughter
