Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Townsville Daily Bulletin published the following article on Harold Joseph (Bunny) Christoffersen on 31 August 1945:

After an absence from Australia of 4 years and 10 months, approximately four years of which were spent as a prisoner of war, Gunner Harold Joseph Christoffersen, known to his many friends as "Bunny" Christoffersen, is enjoying 30 days leave with his family of Griffith Street, South Townsville.

"Bunny", who enlisted in 1939 and was accepted for service in 1940, was a familiar figure on the waterfront where he worked as a watersider for many years.

Life in the prison camps gradually took toll of Gunner Christoffersen who possesses a huge frame but since his release from Germany, he has gained three stone in weight and is now enjoying good health. He weighs 18 stone which was approximately his pre-war weight. Photographs taken in the camp indicated the gradual decline in his physique from a powerfully built man to a figure slender by comparison. The Gunner experienced a good deal of illness losing all his teeth and suffering immensely from boils.

Gunner Christoffersen stated that he owes a debit of gratitude to the Red Cross which he can never repay. The Red Cross parcels were the biggest thing in the life of most of the prisoners. After his release by the advancing Americans, he was taken to Eastbourne reception centre in England where the treatment and care of prisoners was superb,

Gunner Christoffersen left for the Middle East with the Sixth Division in 1940 and participated in the first great push across Libya reaching as far as Banghazi. He was later transported to the First Australian Corps which fought in Greece and he was captured by the Germans on April 28, 1941. He was placed in Stalag 18A in Austria and was sent to work, in turn, at a bark factory, a farm and a timber yard.

A striking example of the undoubted ingenuity of the Germans is the fact that the bark in the factory, where Gunner Christoffersen worked, was used to make leather, a sample of which he brought back. To the untrained eye, this "errata" leather is undistinguishable from the ordinary hide.

Other souvenirs collected by Gunner Christoffersen include two meerschaum pipes - one with an ornately carved bowl of wood and the other of beautiful chinaware; also many beautiful brooches, including one modelled in the style of a Tryolean hat. He also exhibited a rare Austrian flower which grows on cliff faces. It is said that many people have met their death in attempts to reach the particular flower.

Camp shows were a regular feature of the prison life and served to shed some sunlight on the prisoners' gloomy existence. Gunner Christoffersen exhibited a few printed programmes of the shows, among the imposing titles being "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp", "The Hottentots", "French Without Tears", "Hawaiian Paradise" and "Hitting High". Some photographs of stage settings were evidence of the efficiency of the production staff and the music, according to the Gunner, was always excellent.

Gunner Christoffersen has kept a leaflet, printed in German, dropped by Allied bombers over Germany. Some of these fell on the camp area. Prominent on the front page are pictures of the late President Roosevelt, Mr Churchill and Generalissimo Stalin.

Gunner Christoffersen arrived back in Australia on August 10, 1945 and disembarked at Sydney. He has spent a couple of weeks resting on the Tableland. His leave expires on September 18 when he will leave for a convalescent depot, prior to being discharged.