Michael Charnaud (C 46 - 49) arrived at Bradfield having been captured as an 11 year old boy by the German Raider Thor in May 1942. He was handed to the Japanese as a child prisoner interned at Fukushima until the end of the war. His experience was captured for the BBC archive BBC - WW2 People's War - A Child's War by Michael Charnaud. See the below exerpt from the final chapter as he reflects upon the learnings from his experience;

'People often ask how my childhood in a Japanese Camp during the most formative years of ones life has affected me. It has in all sorts of ways mainly in being very adaptable especially with my hands and always being able to “make do” and find a way around a problem.

Also I have an abhorrence of waste in any form, such a food left on plates, and I still carefully conserve the soap ends by sticking old pieces together!

I have a subconscious suspicion and distrust of people of great wealth who have made their money too quickly by slick means, but instead respect greatly innovators and creators, and ordinary hard working folk like the many Geordies who from poor backgrounds befriended me.

Loyalty to close friends and family are paramount to my being, as well as being straightforwardly blunt if these are infringed. More than anything though through all the ups and downs I have been supported by laughter and the funny quirky side of life. Somehow a few drinks with ones buddies and the world is right and one has nothing to fear.

Above all though, living under such harsh conditions taught me honesty, a principle reinforced by Father a man of absolute integrity, whose favourite expression was: “Oh what a tangled web we will weave, When we first set out to decieve” His view was that a ‘secretive’ person was a devious person, and one never to be trusted whereas an ‘open’ person, regardless of their faults who can discuss their problems frankly and openly are to be cherished for all time.'

According to his son, Paul, he recalled Bradfield as being was one of the rocks in his life and he talked about his exploits with very fond memories. Michael Charnaud, Army House 1946 - 49 sadly passed away on 5th November 2024.