Recreating the playing fields: New Zealand prisoners of war and sport during the Second World War

Abstract

The introduction of sport in captivity during the Second World War helped to transform the prisoner-of-war camp and the wider prison community into something more familiar. A significant aspect of this transformation was the physical recreation of playing fields in many camps. These fields had elements of familiarity which lessened the foreignness of the camp space. This article analyses how participation in sport helped New Zealand prisoners resist the strangeness of captivity. It also discusses how the men’s sporting experiences extended beyond the playing fields and allowed their loved ones back at home to know that they were all right.