The wartime experiences of Ena Gowland (nee Stephenson) are told here. Her father Ted Stephenson worked 50 acres or so at Low Westgarth Farm, Copley Bent and in 1946, a German POW was “hired” to help with farm work. This is Ena’s story.    

Above: A postcard showing Low Westgarth Farm, to the north of the railway line.

Above: Pre-war: Ted Stephenson, Ena’s dad and Jess.

“At Christmas, Willi asked what size shoe mam, dad and Marjorie took and was explaining how they made slippers with pom-poms, and what he had in mind.  I remember dad saying, “No pom-poms”.  Willi came in with brown paper parcels, 7 in all, wrapped in string and all named.  For me a handbag, made from uniforms with his name and number printed inside.  For Jean, a toy, a platform you held in your hand and jiggled it, it had chicks on strings that picked at corn.  For Eric, a grey horse that looked like our Prince, yoked in a coop cart.  For James, a wooden bull nosed German car.  For Marjorie, mam and dad a pair of slippers each.  Dad’s had the largest pom-poms, we all saw the joke and laughed and laughed.  Alas, now in 2020, the only present surviving is my handbag.”

The photos below show Ena with her 1946 Christmas present and a close up to show Willi’s name & POW number. 

Below are 2 photos, taken in 1948 at Low Westgarth Farm. By this time, Willi Maass had been repatriated to Germany but, the farming activities were little changed, for example – rearing turkeys for the Christmas season and hay timing. There will be more about Willi Maass in another article.

Above: 1948: Ena and the Xmas turkeys.

Above: 1948: A break from hay timing – Bert & George Sowerby; Ena Stephenson; Stewart Davey; Alan Lamb; Jim Stephenson behind him; Ted and Marjorie Stephenson

The bag was a present that Ena cherished but she had a dream to return it to Willi Maas or his family. She hoped to meet up with the Maass family. The first part of the venture was achieved in September 2020 when the bag was returned to Willi’s son, Wolfgang (pictured below with his wife Renata). Sadly, Wolfgang has since passed away.

Above: Wolfgang Maass and his wife Renata with the returned bag.

The second part will come to fruition shortly – Willi’s grandson Andreas is to visit Ena in November 2023.