I, TOO, have a story to tell about the German PoWs stationed at the Common, Southampton, during and after the Second World War.

My father, the late Eddie Bowles ran an off-licence in Freemantle where our entire family lived behind the shop.

My dad had been heartbroken when his younger brother was killed in Italy in 1944 and he blamed the Germans and hated them.

Once the war ended and restrictions on prisoners lifted, they were allowed to go out of the camp and buy their own food and requirements.

One day, a Jeep pulled up outside our shop and two German PoWs walked in and asked for a crate of beer.

This became regular and my dad got to know them well, and all of us as we were always helping in the off-licence.

Dad soon learned that the young men were drafted into the Germany army against their will and never trained to fight or kill, just like my uncle who never wanted to go to war.

Dad's hatred turned to forgiveness and a firm bond of friendship formed between them and all our family.

One of the men made us a bookcase/cabinet as he was a carpenter and this stayed in our family home after moving from the off-licence, for years and years.

We always called it the German cabinet and it features in many home photographs.

MRS PAMELA HUMPHREY, Millbrook, Southampton.