What were the English prisoner of war camps like in WWII?

The impression before they were captured, and that when they were interred, was different for German and Japanese.

The Germans were surprised not at the conditions or treatment, in the camps. But mainly by the civilians. Noel Cowards song -Don't let's be beastly to the Germans- was largely taken at face value, by most people. By and large the Germans were treated well.

The Japanese were quite frankly, stupefied. They expected to be treated like dirt and in most cases were astonished (In all POW camps Australian, Indian, British and American) at their good treatment. Whilst there were cases of mis-treatment by and large they were treated as one, would expect under the Geneva convention. Many found it hard to comprehend at there good treatment.

In 1970/1 a work mate of mine told about an exchange visit he did with a school in Germany, a few years before. His uncle had befriended a German POW at the end of the war, and he came over with his son on the exchange. Dave my friend from Wakefield West Yorkshire said he was dumb struck when he met them off the train, he had been practising his -poor German greeting- for a couple of days. The two got off the train and the German Father in perfect Yorkshire accent said, 'Eh up lad, thou looks in fine fettle.' He had learnt to speak English in Wakefield and had always kept it up, complete with broad Yorkshire accent.

Iam not sure about Japanese POW camps. There were several German camps set up in the British Isles, for soldiers captured in the retreat out of France in 1940, and those shot down. And, German citizens living in Britain at the outbreak of the war. Uncomfortable thoughts in our modern times, but internment was a fact of life during WWII.

My nan remembers one near where she was evacuated. Yes there was barbed wire and guards, but they were well treated, fed, watered, clothed. Some of them were allowed out to the town with a pass, if they were well behaved and not considered a threat. Apparently my nan's twin sister dated a German soldier, but it's never mentioned these days! They undertook chores, working the land mostly, but it wasn't slave labour. They got off pretty lightly compared to the German and Japanese treatment of POWs.

It skill that the individuals they're battling seize them alive and shop them as prisoners, like bargaining products. they typically carry onto them until the conflict is over or they get away and return to homestead lands.

The one I know about was in East Lothian up here in Scotland and we had an ex P.O.W work with us in the coal mine, he told us he had a relatively easy time and married a Scottish girl and stayed here.

So there was no bad memories for him.