Diary

Written by Maurice Baribeau during his nearly eight months of imprisonment after being captured in Norway, this diary documents the difficult conditions experienced by prisoners living in war camps. The lack of food, the cold, the constant movements from one camp to another, and the unsanitary living conditions are all described in the pilot's own words. Despite the circumstances, Maurice Baribeau never seems to give in to pessimism, and very little to melancholy. The document presents a relatively objective account of the pilot's situation. He generally uses neutral terms, adopts a lively style, and composes concise, powerful sentences. In addition to dated diary entries, Maurice Baribeau's notebook contains quotations from Winston Churchill and Percival Christopher Wren, as well as unsigned poems, possibly written by him, and various detailed notes about life in the camp. These include the contents of Red Cross packages, which varied depending on the prisoner's nationality, an hourly schedule of the activities repeated daily, and a list of officers and non-commissioned officers being held at the camp and their countries of origin. Maurice Baribeau also keeps a detailed account of the letters he has sent, indicating the date, addressee, and the camp from which it was sent. Finally, he keeps an up-to-date record of addresses of people he already knows, though the list seems to grow as he meets fellow prisoners of war.