Prisoner of War (POW) Camp

Letter from a POW prisoner, Gerhard Lorenz, who was once at the Turner County POW camp and worked for Mr. Chester Lee "C.L." Wilson of Chula, Georgia.

Chester's wife's name was Unez Pilkinton Wilson. This could explain the Pilkinton family…

TRANSCRIPTION BELOW

Report 42 of Visit to Prisoner of War Camp, Ashburn, Georgia

April 25, 1945

Changes in U.S. Staff: Lt. Boylan was replaced by Lt. Hoiton, as compound officer.

Changes in buildings and grounds: Great improvement in the…

Once a guardhouse at the Prisoner of War (POW) camp located in Ashburn, Georgia from 1943-1946. This one is located on Raney Street in Ashburn with another on Monroe Avenue. According to current Raney St. owner Susan Watson, "It was purchased by the…

"Nearly 5,000 German prisoners of war, having laid down their swords and shields on the dusty battlefields of North Africa and elsewhere, are helping harvest the record South Georgia peanut crop this year estimated at 812,725,000 pounds or 47,345,000…

"Newton Smith, 35, guard at the Turner county work camp near Ashburn, burned to death yesterday when fire destroyed a guard bunkhouse. Turner county officers said he was alone in the bunkhouse when the fire developed early yesterday morning.
Funeral…