 His love of the countryside and of birds, apparent in his poetry, was a constant solace in camp life and bird-watching was, for him and several of his fellow prisoners, Peter Conder, John Barrett and George Waterston, one of the keenest of their few pleasures.They were brought together in Oflag VIB near Warburg  and later in Oflag VIIB at Eichstatt.,

"Westward" was written in prison camp.It was of particular interest that prisoners should be able to carry on their literary work and for it eventually to reach England.