IN 1952 I was in the army and stationed in Berlin. In the month of June I competed in the Rhine Army games, the swimming section of which was held in Celle.

This is very close to Belsen and one rest day a few of us got hold of a truck and drove to the camp. At that time it was pretty rough and ready with not much to see except a series of huge pits.

From the centre of each one, and running its entire length, a large mound arose with a notice stuck in the middle reading “5,000 ( or 10,000 and so on) buried here”. These were the only features I can recall. I don`t think many people visited the camp in those days; there was certainly no sign of anyone who might have been able to explain anything to us.

Henry Southwell

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