POW Photograph

Bernard Gallagher was born in Wilton, Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota Medical School, where he graduated in 1916. During the war, Gallagher served at a doctor, treating wounded soldiers. In March of 1918, his battalion was forced to abandon their position, but Gallagher had not received word that his battalion was leaving so he stayed in his position with the wounded soldiers he was tending to. As a result, he was taken prisoner by the Germans. These photos are images that he brought back from his time at Camp Villingen in Badeau, Germany, which was located very close to Germany’s border with Switzerland. The first two are group photos of all the prisoners in the camp. Gallagher wrote the name of everyone in the photos on the back of the photograph. A large number of men posing in this photograph are smiling, and they all appear to be in good health and are wearing their own uniforms. The third photo is of guards from the prison camp, who are sitting casually in a wagon and don't seem to be carrying weapons. The last photo is of 4 men, posing for the camera, and Gallagher notes on the back that two of the men escaped from the camp. Look for Gallagher's post in December, in which he describes life in the camp.

 

Citation: Bernard Gallagher Papers. Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, Minnesota. P487