Monument record 2013/1 - Camp 702 Kings Cliffe (WW2 Prisoner of War transit camp)

World War Two prisoner of war camp. The camp was known as King’s Cliffe, Peterborough, camp number 702.

{1} Kingscliffe then became a Holding Unit for German PoW's awaiting repatriation, under the control of 28 Group. That unit closed in July 1947. The airfield was then "Held on Care and Maintenance and later served as an ammunition storage area. The RAF vacated the site in January 1959 and it was sold for private use later that year."

{2} From the 6th February 1946 it was "used as a German PoW Holding Station, being able to accommodate up to 2,800 PoW's at any one time".

{3} PoW Camp 702 (Holding Camp).

{4} Precise location not identified. NGR given for village centre.

{5} World War Two prisoner of war camp. The camp was known as King’s Cliffe, Peterborough, camp number 702. This was previously unlocated but reference to OS map 1950s mapping clearly indicates that the main camp was located immediately north of the Old Sulehay Forest. The whole of the land outside the wood was subsequently quarried and all remains of the camp in this area lost.

{6} In existence in 1945 as an administrative centre for pow camps based at RAF stations. Between 1946 and 1947 it also became a temporary holding centre for up to 3000 pows. Although it was listed as 'No 702 Base Transit' Camp - it was also designated by the RAF as ‘No.1 German PW Holding Unit’. Pows were shipped here from camps in Belguim, Canada and the USA. They generally stayed for only a few days before being shipped on to other RAF camps.

<1> Bowyer M.J.F., 1990, Action Stations 6: Military Airfields of The Cotswolds and The Central Midlands, (unchecked) (Book). SNN39505.

<2> HALPENNY B.B., 1991, Action Stations 2: Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and The East Midlands, (unchecked) (Book). SNN45875.

<3> Armishaw, A., 2001, 20th Century Military Sites, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN104209.

<4> Thomas, R.J.C., 2003, Prisoner of War Camps (1939-1948), (unchecked) (Report). SNN103942.

<5> Cadman, G., 2004, Yarwell Parish Field Inspection, (unchecked) (Note). SNN106977.

<6> Sanders, Malcolm, WW2 POW Camps in the UK, https://www.ww2pow.uk/home/camplist/ - site 702 (Website). SNN115038.

Record last edited

Apr 19 2023 3:46PM