The little box which showed that even in war there can be mutual respect

They were prisoners of war, but were treated with dignity and respect as they toiled on farmland during their time in a Cheshire village. As a thank you to the foreman of Camp 74 near Tarporley they carved a beautiful box from scrap wood.

Now it is hoped the box will lift the lid on what happened to Paolo Testori, Cristoford Camisasca, and Martino Michetti. In 1943 the trio presented it to Len Pearson who was in charge of the camp. Inside was a card with writing on the back in Italian which translates as "So that you remember the Italian prisoners of the 74 camp".

There was also a photograph dated 27th October 1942 of 15 POWs, which are believed to include the three. The box and its contents has recently been acquired by Nantwich Museum who now hope to trace relatives of the three.

READ MORE: The grisly history of Britain's biggest and worst World War Two internment camp

Graham Dodd, a volunteer at the museum said: "We acquired the box from Malcolm Pearson, the son of Len Pearson. It appears there was a good relationship between the Italian prisoners of war and local people.

"The three were so impressed they presented the box to Len, who they also clearly held in high esteem. In discussion Malcolm noted that the box was polished every week by his mother Mary, an indication of how much it was valued.

It is believed some of the Italian prisoners remained in the Cheshire and North West area, marrying local women, and making a new life for themselves, while others eventually returned to their homeland. While at the camp they were deployed as agricultural workers.

Graham said: "We hope to locate relatives of the three prisoners who made the box and others in the photograph. We would also like to hear from people who worked