I didn't really pay much attention to the subject of the use (or not) of
prisoners of war - sorry chaps, it wasn't in my sphere of interest.
However, I am doing some work at the moment on the life and times of
Francis Oats of St Just and South Africa and came across the following in a
letter from his son Freathy, dated 9 June 1918:
"We have been offered Hun Miners by the Government but although we could
easily make arrangements to take 50 we cannot do so at present because of
opposition from the Miners, however I am going into the matter and hope to
arrange things with the Union Officials."
Pete Joseph
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