We Battled to Survive

Artist, turned soldier then captive. Even among those who stood against tyranny from the early battles of World War Two, few will have stared down as many barrels and lived to tell the tale asWally Cumberland. After severe injury and close shaves in action,concealment in a nunnery and forced labour across Eastern Europe, Wally documented life behind the wire as a POW in Stalag XXB. Even more remarkably, he carried these photos, drawings,newspapers and theatrical ephemera through the privations of the ‘Black March’ and, eventually, home - where new struggles were to be faced. In his 90th year Wally decided to relate his story - from which we can only wonder at one man’s amazing capacity to survive supreme challenge.