THE festive season rekindled memories of some very different Christmases back in the Second World War.

Eden Camp, near Malton, is a wartime theme museum housed in what was once a prisoner of war camp and its collection includes what were once some very special gifts.

A wooden model of a bomber was made by a German PoW who was held at Eden Camp. He gave it to a guard who in turn gave it to his son.

And a pull-along wooden truck and horse were made by Germans incarcerated at Bishop Middleham, in a satellite camp of Wolviston Hall Camp near Billingham.

They were given as presents to John and Dorothy Tinkler, who were the son and daughter of William and Ella who farmed at Elderberry Hall Farm, Fishburn and employed prisoners on the farm.

Such items were made by PoW’s for two main reasons.

The first was to provide them with items which they could sell or barter for other goods. Whilst prisoners were paid for work which they undertook, they were paid in special PoW camp currency which could only be spent within their camp to purchase things like toiletries and writing materials.

Therefore prisoners made items which could be traded for items which they could not obtain in camp, or sold for cash which would then give them access to goods sold in civilian shops.

The second reason prisoners was so that they could be offered as tokens of friendship and gratitude for the hospitality shown by civilians to the prisoners.

“Such gifts are a reminder that the Christmas spirit could still shine through in the war,” said museum director Nick Hill.