He's not technically my ancestor but I consider him, at the very least, an 'honourary ancestor' and that Ted Neal, my great-grandfather's best friend and my great-grandmother's second husband.
I found his tiny, tattered diary in a shoebox, the cover is made of blue leather and neatly impressioned into it is 'STALAG XX A'.
I presume that he bought the diary or was given it around Christmas 1941 as it's intended for 1942 (he used it for '42 and '43).
Looking inside, Ted used the diary for all kinds of things, from keeping his bills at home in order, noting important things and keeping the home addresses of his fellow prisoners.
As I said the diary is very small so he never wrote more than a few words for each day but here are the notable excerpts:
Jan 1 - Monday
Jan 2 - Sam's Birthday
Jan 10 - Photo of Room Group to Polly [his sister]; Photo of QVRs to Albert [his brother]
Feb 12 - Birthday Card from Polly + George
Feb 15 - [His Birthday] Accordion band plays tonight in own flat 65 Guests [he was an accordionist]
June 20 - Letter to Albert about who is paying rent and a stone for mother's grave
June 24 - Mother's Birthday; Letter from Polly; Letter from George
Aug 31 - Expecting to move on Wednesday
Sept 16 - Left Stalag XX A for new camp (Oflag IIIC)
Oct 10 - Start of reprisals (ie. tying of hands)
Oct 12 - Still tying hands
Oct 16 - Still tying hands
Dec 25 - Christmas Day
Dec 31 - Received photo of Maureen [his niece]