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Duchess of Cornwall reveals how her father cheered fellow Forces prisoners in Nazi camp with makeshift news bulletins
Camilla shared stories of her father, Major Bruce Shand, as the patron of the British Forces Broadcasting Service
The Duchess of Cornwall’s father produced a makeshift news bulletin for his fellow prisoners of war to listen to voices from home while trapped in a Nazi camp, she has disclosed, as she hailed the Armed Forces broadcasting service still providing a “home from home”.
The Duchess, who said she was a “very proud patron” of the British Forces Broadcasting Service, praised its work using television and radio to raise morale and “lessen the gap between loved ones”.
Sharing tales from the military service of her father, Major Bruce Shand, she said the simple matter of hearing a friendly voice over the airways could make an important difference to servicemen and women away from home.
“I know a little of the importance of maintaining the connection between serving personnel and their family because, during the Second World War, my father was held as a prisoner of war in Germany,” she said.
“Officially, his role was to be the laundry officer. Unofficially, it fell to him and half a dozen others to create and listen to a very basic radio to glean precious news of home and share it with their fellow prisoners.
“Periodic Nazi raids would locate and destroy the carefully-built wireless sets, but they were always replaced as quickly as possible – the men could cope with almost anything as long as they were not deprived of some form of contact with home.
“In the same way, your incredible work raises morale, forges a sense of community and lessens the distance from loved ones. You live up to your inspiring motto 'serving those who serve', and for this – thank you.”
Major Shand was an officer in the British Army, winning two Military Crosses in the Second World War.
On Nov 6, 1942, while in Egypt, his vehicle was destroyed, his two crewmen killed, and himself captured as a prisoner of war to be held in Oflag IX A in Spangenberg Castle.
His autobiography details how he and a handful of others used a regularly-destroyed radio receiver to pick up the BBC, taking turns to scribble shorthand notes to recreate a bulletin to be read out among prisoners each evening.
His daughter, the Duchess, has since laid flowers on the grave of his driver who was killed during a visit to El Alamein. During a royal tour to Canada in 2017, she was surprised at a visit to a vineyard to be introduced to Edward Rose, a 92-year-old former lieutenant with the Green Jackets who was a prisoner alongside her father.
The Duchess now holds several key military patronages, including the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, The War Memorial Trust and The Desert Rats Association.
She holds the honorary position of Colonel in Chief The Rifles, The Royal Colonel 4th Battalion the Rifles, Sponsor HMS Astute, Sponsor HMS The Prince of Wales, Hon Air Commodore RAF Leeming and RAF Halton, Commodore in Chief of the Naval Chaplaincy Service.
Delivering a welcoming address via video as she was announced patron of BFBS, the Duchess said: “For 75 years, the BFBS has championed our wonderful Armed Forces and shone a spotlight on their vital work.
“Spanning 15 time zones, from the deserts of the Middle East to the windswept Falkland Islands, you are truly a worldwide organisation that supports our servicemen and women wherever they may find themselves.
“You also, of course, support service families, who face immense challenges.
“The simple things are often those that matter most, whether hearing a friendly voice on the radio, or children being able to watch their favourite programmes.”
The service was founded in 1943 with its first radio station in Algiers and became known to the general public in the UK through the weekly ‘Two Way Family Favourites’ programme.
It now operates online, with TV, audio and digital media to UK forces overseas and at sea.
Addressing troops directly, the Duchess said she would like to “express my deepest admiration for our Armed Forces who have once again demonstrated remarkable versatility and courage this year, responding to the numerous calls for help both in this country and overseas”.
“Many of you will be on duty over Christmas, protecting those of us who will be safe with our families,” she added. “Thank you for your unseen sacrifices that you are making for us all. Thank you also to your families for keeping the home fires burning.”