A CHRISTMAS card sent from a German prisoner of war to the family he lived with in Gretna has formed part of a new display at the Devil’s Porridge Museum.

Addressed to the Wright family, of P West II Gretna, the card reveals the bond that was formed between local people and the prisoners they housed during World War Two.

The POW, who is known only by the name Helmut, wrote to the family on December 10, 1947, two years after the war ended, to send them Christmas wishes.

His message read: “Dear Family Wright. As Xmas is coming means I’ll not miss to send you my best wishes and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hoping this card will obtain in correct time… Yours ex-POW. Helmut.”

Volunteer Jordan Murray, a third year University of Stirling student who lives in Gretna, worked on the new display which is available to view online, as the museum is currently closed to the public.

He said: “Some POWs were housed with local families, such as Helmut, and it is nice to think that the people got along well – well enough to be sending a Christmas card to each other after the war had ended.

“We’re experiencing a strange Christmas ourselves this year and it is, perhaps, reassuring to know that other people experienced strange festive periods in our region in the past too.”

The Devil’s Porridge Museum is set to reopen on February 1, but this is part of the work continuing behind the scenes.

“We’ve had a lot of interesting donations recently” said museum manager Judith Hewitt, “and this is a good time to get them sorted out. I’ve been lucky to have the help of Jordan, a new volunteer.”