Any ideas on Matlock Caves

[strangeart]

My dad (deceased) escaped from a POW camp in Italy and was on the run for two years along with other guys. On returning to the UK the army allowed them to live in a cave in Matlock until they grew used to civilisation. Any one else out there who knows where these caves were?

[alex3659]

This sounds fascinating if not strange.

Could you give a bit more information on this?.

If true it would make a great story.

[strangeart]

Okay, as I remember him telling me as the germans came in to take over the POW camp in Italy somehow a way out was left open and several prisoners escaped including my dad. In his words they nipped out through a back door. They hid in the moutains in Italy and were occasionally fed by peasants. This went on for two years. On returning to the UK he had a long beard and a stutter. He managed to pick up basic Italian. He was with the Royal Artillery and was a gunner. He was captured on the desert. We have some old letters from the POW camp to my MUM and of course her recollections.

[Blue Day]

There are the old lead mines at the top where the cable car goes.... we took the kids round there last year but I can't recall any mention of POWs

[strangeart]

Just asked MUM she believes the caves to be above Matlock Bath so the mines may be a possibility. This would be back in 1945.

[Tripitaka]

Are there not the old druids caves around there?

[strangeart]

Had a breakthrough. The Smedley building at Matlock was a military intellegence centre and military hospital. The caves well could be the Roman caves at the foot of the Tor. Have asked DCC for more info.