ALMOST 40 people of all ages from across Peeblesshire braved the changeable weather last Sunday afternoon and gathered at Stobo Village Hall to walk to the site of a First World War German Prisoner of War Camp near Dawyck Mill to take part in a simple act of reconciliation and thanksgiving for peace.

Around 120 German prisoners had been based at the camp, mostly seamen from the Blucher and Gneisenau and various submarines.

The camp opened in July 1916 and remained in use until May 1919.

The POWs were employed mainly as forestry labourers, felling the trees and working at the nearby sawmills to provide the wood for the trenches which was in great demand.

Sunday’s ceremony took place in front of a simple memorial stone which is built into the dry-stane dyke on one side of the area where the huts housing the prisoners once stood.

The Rev Verena Jantzen, Pastor, along with her husband Thomas, of the German-speaking Churches in Scotland and Newcastle joined The Rev Tony Foley, Locum minister at Upper Tweeddale, and The Rev Calum Macdougall, Interim-Moderator at Upper Tweeddale for the occasion.

In a short but moving service a prayer for reconciliation and peace was followed by those present sharing The Peace.

Frau Jantzen then read Battle on the Marne (September 1914) by Wilhelm Klemm, first in German and then in English, followed by Mr Macdougall’s reading of To Germany by Scottish World War One poet, Charles Hamilton Sorley.

Then before Mr Foley led the closing prayer, the three ministers lit a Candle of Reconciliation at the foot of the memorial.

Rev Macdougall told us: "This was a very meaningful occasion in a quiet, peaceful setting that has its own special atmosphere of calm.