Album of Gustave Martin, POW in Ceylon

Album of Gustave Martin, POW in Ceylon

Abstract

Gustave Martin, from Normandy, aged 20 years at the outbreak of the war, was one of some 20 French POW’s detained at Diyatalawa and the Ragama camps in Ceylon. He left a diary in the form of an “album” which has been found only a few years ago. This is a vivid account of miseries, small joys and long waits with many interesting photographs, most of them unknown or little known of yet so far. Thorough research made it possible to trace and reconstruct Gustave’s life before and after, as a POW. Translation from French is provided by large extracts.