The Looted Camera A story from the Great War

THE LOOTED CAMERA A story from World War 1

A picture a World War One German soldier took with a camera he stole from a dead British soldier has been discovered after more than 100 years.

German veteran Ernst Behnke is pictured smiling with his comrades and a military historian is trying to return the camera given to him by Mr Behnke's relatives to the family of its original owner.

German soldier Ernst Behnke took a camera from the body of Lance Corporal Walter Samuel Town, from Dagenham, East London

Mr Schaefer is appealing for relatives of tragic Lance Corporal Walter Samuel Town to come forward and claim it. Robin Schaefer has begun trying to reunite the Model A Kodak Pocket Camera, which still works, with the late squaddie's family.

Ernst survived the war and the camera, which bears L/Cpl Town's name, was handed down through his family.

L/Cpl Town was killed on September 20, 1917, and his body was never recovered, although Mr Behnke may have come across it which would explain how he acquired the camera.

Mr Schaefer, who is also the historical editor at Iron Cross Magazine, said: 'Ernst returned home after the war but his family today don't really know anything about him or the camera and they were not particularly interested neither, which is why they gave me his war memorabilia in 2013. 'I think Ernst served in the Reserve-InfanterieRegiment 213, a reserve infantry regiment in the German army, which was in Flanders at the right time at Corporal Town was killed.

The Model A Kodak Vest Pocket or Model A VPK was given to historian Robin Schaefer by Mr Behnke's relatives and now he is trying to reunite it with its original owner 'He must have acquired this camera somehow. The camera is a Model A Kodak Vest Pocket or Model A VPK - and they were produced between 1910 and 1912.

'It is quite rare today and it is a physical link to all the soldiers, from all warring sides, who still lie out there in the fields of Belgium and France.

'The camera was and is a powerful tool to connect children with the past. As such it as done a wonderful and valuable job over the last few years. it still works like charm, and we have actually used it several times. Now that the centenary is over I wondered if we could try to reunite the camera with the family of the previous owner, in case they do care about it as much as we did in the past.'

Do you know the family of Lance Corporal Walter Samuel Town?