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8The Canadian Statesman.BowmanvileAugust 1,1979 Section Two Former German POW Returns for Visit, Standing at the entrance to Pine Ridge Sehool which was a German prisoer of war camp for officers during World War II, Edgar Lersch visitecf the site this weekwhere he spent three years behind barbed wire. by Donna Fairey Duriag the 'rise and faîl of the Third Reicb,ý Edgar Lerscb was a German pris- coner of. war at wbat is now Pine Ridge Training School. Last week he returned to Bowmanville, not as a Pris- oner, but a German citizen on bholiday to take a nostalgie look at the former prisoner of war camp wbere he spent nearly three years behlad barbed wire. Other tban the absence of guard watch towers and barbed wire confinement, Mr. Lerscb found little change since he was brougbt to the training school site la the Fal of 1942 as a captured war prisoner. As a result of World War Il, Bowmanville Training School was transformed into a prisoner of war camp wbich was primarily designed to bouse German officers. Tbe camp was an interameat centre for many 'of Hitler's "1cream of the crop" ranking officers from 1942 to 1945. During this period, at least 500 A memento to remind him of his visit to Bowmanville last week was presented to Edgar Lersch by Mayor Rickard. Mr. Lersch was a prisoner of war from 1942-45 at what is now Pine Ridge Schbol. ofth Month0of 4JulIy HAROLD MICHELSON Roy Nichols Limited of Cou rtice, are very pleased to again announce that, Harold Michelson is their Top Salesman, this urne for the month of July. Harold has been a member of the Roy Nichols sales team for several years and he holds the elite status of Grand Salesmaster of General Motors of Canada. Harold has been a resident of Bowmanville for many years. On behaif of the management of Roy Nichols Motors Limited, we offer Harold aur heartiest congratulations. officers and 150 enlisted men were war prisoners of the Canadian government. The story -of Mr. Lersc's capture is the type of which movies are made. A 21-year- old pilot in the German air command, he was shot down over the Mediterranean Sea by a Britisb figbter plane. Piloting a Heinckel III long range bomber on his 56tb combat mission, he and a crew of four successfully landed the wounded plane in the sea. Miraculously, none of the crew was injured and by another stroke of good luck, tbeir survival dingy was blown towàrd the coast of Egypt rather than out into tbe open sea where tbey would have encountered a life threatening situation. Althougb they landed on Egyptian soil with life and 11mb intact, tbey were subse- quently taken prisoner by the Britisb wbo occupied tbat soil at the time. In a roundabout trip wbich took bim to Palestine, the Suez, and around the African continent to New York, Mr. Lersch was ultimately transported to Bowmanville where be would spend the aext three years of his life waiting for word of the war of which he no longer was a part. 0f his confinement at Bow- manville, Mr. Lersch speaks with mixed emotions. AI- thougb be was tbousands of miles from his family and a war pisoner in a strange country, be relates tbe treat- ment he received, under tbe circumstances, a5 being "very fair." His attitude toward the experience bears not the least trace of resentment. Quite the opposite in fact. Whîle revisit- ing the school this W'eek, accompanied by his wife, a cousin and Mayor Garnet Rickard, he almost appeared to dîsplay a certain degree of kinship. The one main complaint of the former P.O.W. was the boredom whicb beset him and bis comrades. To fill the time, in typical German Enterpris- ing' style, they instigated a number of activities to stimu- late mind and body. Drawing from their own resources, a type of university system was established whereby the prisoners gained knowledge and expertise fromn one another. They also formed a symphony orchestra and the- paper music was supplied by the Y.M.C.A. The farm whicb was located there at the time provided a physical outlet, as well as swim sessions in the indoor pool wbich is still being used. These were not the only physical activities in whicb the Germans engaged. One major attemipt at escape was organized by the prisoners. Sopîe years later, the unsuc- cessful endeavour was written in a book titled "Bowmanville Break. " Discovery of the escape plot came when earth from a tunnel which the prisoners bad been digging under one of their bouses and storing in tbe attic, caused the ceilîng to sag and deposits of the tell-tale material appeared on tbe floor. Althougb the attçmpted escape took place in Mr. Lersch's barracks, be main- tained he was not directly involved, explaining he would not have known where to go or what to do if be had accom- plished freedom. Older citizens of the town remember the days when prisoners were marched parade style" from the training scbool to the lake, presumably for physical exer- cise. Not ever having been on one of these marches, Mr. Lersch said bis life for tbose three years was totally spent behind barbed wire. Not until his return visit this week bad the war and Hitler had fallen. Germans set about the task of rebuilding the post war de- struction to their country. Now that World War Il is but a milestone in history, Mr. Lersch is presently employed as a travelling salesman. Tbough his return visit to Bowmanville brougbt back memories of a time in bis manhood when country was pitted against country and thousands of men were dying in bloodbaths, fighting for principles in wbich tbey believed, Mr. Lersch visited the site of his confinement this week harbouring not the least resentment toward Cana- dians. Sehool Board Selects New Superintendent The Northumberland and Newcastle Board of Education hired its new, area superin- tendent in a special meeting held Monday, July 23. Dr. Riley E. Moynes, a 35-year-old Thornhill resident, is tbe new administrator. He wîll serve in the central area of the Northumberland and Newcastle àchool system. Dr. Moynes was chosen from 22 persons who applied for the job. Dr. Moynes, wbo is married with two children, obtained bis M.A. (History) fromn the University of Toronto and bis D.Ed., also from the Univer- sity of Toronto. While hie holds certification in both elementary and secon- dary panels the major portion of his teaching experience has been-acquired in North York secondary system. He bas served for three years at Assistant Director of Education and for four years as Director of Education for the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto. In 1977 hie joined the staff of tbe Central Ontario Regional Office of the Ministry of Education located in Willow- dale. He holds membership in a number of professional asso- ciations and bas contributed numerous articles on educa- tion. In Northumberland and Newcastle he will serve in the Central Area. To implement this decision. Mr. J.D. Gowing will transfer from the Western to the Eastern Area and Mr. HO0. Knapper from the Central to the Western Area. HeIp gour HeIp gour Heart Fund THE SIGN 0F A GOOD BUSINESS NEIGHBOR ... THE SIGN 0F A MERCHANT WHO CAR ES ABOUT PEOPLE ... This emblem identifies the civic-minded businessmen who sponsor koTefK0îeSFee ln the community. For information call Marg Sain Phne_ 2_-2661 PEACOCK LUM BER LTD. Building supplies. Our speciality is lumber and lumber products. A complete lune of Uin dried hardwood and softwoods., " Walnut . Cherry . Maple . Redwood " Teak . Oak . Phil. Mahog. - Softwoods Hardwood & softwood plywood'. MILL and YARD 328 Rtson Rd. N., Oshawa 725-4744 Specialify Custom Milling Horticultural and Gladiolus Society Hold Joint Picnic The Bowmanville Horticultural and Gladiolus Societies held a joint picnic -on Saturday, July 28 at Darlington Provincial Park. After an interesting discussion on the showing of Gladioli and Dahlias, the members indulged in a delicious pot luck supper. Mrs. Killeen on the accordian and Mr. Slute on the violin provided musical entertainment. Some games and prizes were the culmination of an enjoyable afternoon. R e gion,%. Won,'t Objeet to Expanding Reclaimers N ewtonville Operation The Region won't object to a request fromn Regional Reclaimers, north-west of Newtonville, to increase its daily disposal rate from 60 to 150 tons. Regional Reclaimers, owned and operated by the Hale family, applied to the Ministry of Enviroament to increase its disposal rate in anticipation of a successful bld for the General Motors waste disposal contract. General Motors generates approximately 90 tons of refuse a day. Reglonal Reclaimers has capacity to handle this added volume for a period of four to six years, a report to council said, but before coasidering the application, the Ministry asked the Region for its comments. Although the company is not applying for any expansion of its site at this tîme, it does have plans to do so in the future. Such a move would require additional hydro- geologic studies and an Enviroamental Assessment Board hearing. The report states that the major effect on the Region, of General Motors waste beiag disposed at a private site, is loss of revenue. Counter- balancing this is the fact that the Region's laadfill sites will have an extended life-span, providing greater capacity for waste generated by the public sector. At present, Regional Reclaimers landfill serves local municipalities, private waste haulers and industrial- commercial waste generators la the Osbawa-Newcastle area. Newcastle Councillor Bill Clarke says the site also handles garbage coming from Port Hope. "I'm not sure why Port Hope closed its landfill site and is now allowed to bring garbage into our municipality without any recompease to the town." Clarke also believes the Town of Newcastle should have a say la whether or not the application for an increas- ed disposal rate is approved "lespecially if toxic substances are involved". And, Mayor Garnet E fears the increase will more beavy truck traff municipal roads. O-1BITUA] FRANCIS LOUWi As the result ofà accident, FrancisI aged 22, passed awi weeks later on Wedî July 1lth, 1979 la Ci Alberta. The son of M r. ani Pieter Louws, be was1 the Netherlands and educated in Bowmanville. Employed ia Alberta, lhe bad previously resided la Bowmaaville for 18 years. He was a member of the Christian Reformed Church, Bowman- ville. Left to mourn his passing are bis parents. three brotbers, Peter, Neil, and Andy J. Louws and two sisters, Janna Neads and Joanne - Elizabetb Louws. Rickard Funeral services were beld J mean on Moaday at the Northcutt fic over Elliott Funeral Home with the Reverend A. DeJager officiating. Y Palîbearers were P. Louws, Y Andy-John Louws, P. Louws, 7 Orono, Neil Louws, Janna ÎS Neads and R. Vermeulen. àtrain A beautîful floral offering la Louws, bis memory, was received iay six from thé Carnation Flower riesday, Shop as well as offerings from ,algary, friends, relatives and neigbbors. id Mrs. Intermhent Bowmaaville bora in Cemetery. 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