THE history of German prisoners of war held in England during the Second World War is well documented.

Less however, can be said of the First World War although by October 1918, over quarter of a million German prisoners were held in 492 prisoner of war camps throughout the country.

These interesting and relatively unknown facts have been unearthed by second-year Southampton University student Abigail Wheeler who, along with five other of her university peers, has been researching German PoWs for their BA History degree since early February this year.

From their extensive studies, which has seen the students exhaust many south coast libraries and museums, Abigail and her group have discovered that Southampton's location in relation to the front line in France destined the city to play a role in the transportation and accommodation of German PoWs from 1914-1918.

Prisoners were brought to England via Southampton docks. For many their journey progressed by foot past the Old Town Walls, along Western Esplanade to Shirley Road. Their destination was Janson Road, Shirley.

The prisoner of war camps were not always the purpose-built cramped wooden huts surrounded by severe barbed wire one may imagine.

In November 1914, the people of Shirley were displeased at the conversion of their roller skating rink into an internment camp, holding both German PoWs and local civilian "enemy aliens" - people of German nationality who lived in Britain.

Enemy aliens were housed close to their homes, although removed from their jobs, family and friends.

Prime Minister Asquith announced that the government had decided to "intern or segregate all enemy aliens for their own safety", while at the same time the British press shaped public opinion immensely against German people they referred to as the Hun.

Captured Germans were left to occupy themselves at the camp in Janson Road.

A photograph distributed by the Red Cross shows German prisoners relaxed while playing cards. Fairly relaxed attitudes were due to the camp's role as a temporary internment camp before soldiers were sent to more permanent prisons elsewhere in England.

Accommodation and privileges enjoyed by the PoWs varied considerably between camps, depending greatly upon the nature of the establishment and available facilities and the attitude of the camp commandant.

To the people of Shirley today the roller-skating rink has long been forgotten. It reopened after the war to dwindling attendance because of the people's unforgiving response to its withdrawal four years before.

As times changed, new leisure activities became popular and the building was to become a cinema.

When one mentions the Rialto Cinema, the eyes of the older residents of the area light up with recognition and reminiscence.

Between January 9, 1922 and November 5, 1960 the cinema was very popular. After its closure, it was never to regain the supremacy of its previous years within the area. It was to become a warehouse and has remained so to this day.

On the corner of the road today stands a furniture shop. An impressive structure can be seen behind modern signs and dirty brickwork, but it no longer stands out as anything more than a warehouse and true to modern ways, it will soon be flattened to rise again as housing.

The history of the German prisoner of war camp on our doorstep will not just be forgotten, but destroyed.