This blog is written by Nottingham University student Kate Girdlestone with grateful thanks to local resident Jane Beably for sharing her ancestor's inspirational story.
Captain Anthony Charles Graham Rothera, born in 1913, was a Nottingham Solicitor, whose experiences during the Second World War show a brave and resourceful man in terrible circumstances.
Rothera, known as Tony to many, joined the army as a relief soldier in April 1935, and went to fight in the Second World War. On May 24th 1940, he was captured by the Germans in the Siege of Calais - after a decision to not evacuate the troops at Calais in order to rescue those at Dunkirk.
Rothera spent the remainder of the war as a Prisoner of War in the German Oflags. For the next five years he was moved between four different camps, Oflag VII-C, Oflag VI-B, Oflag VII-B and Stalag VII-A - and forced to march the hundreds of miles between each.
Photo taken inside Stalag VII-A, copyright: https://stalagluft3.wordpress.com/2015/03
Despite these awful circumstances and conditions, Rothera used his legal background to educate his fellow prisoners, using books and supplies provided by the Red Cross.
A Christmas card sent from Rothera to his sister from Oflag VII-C, his first camp, in December 1940. Provided by Jane Bealby.
On the 29th April 1945, Stalag VII-A was liberated, and Rothera returned to Nottingham and the family firm - Rotheras Solicitors. After his return, Rothera had an impressive legal career. He was appointed City Coroner in 1946, made President of the Nottinghamshire Law Society in 1965, and became Britain’s first Honorary Coroner in 1983.
Captain Anthony Rothera, photo provided by Jane Bealby
Despite such an admirable legal career, it is Captain Rothera’s courage and determination in the German Prison Camps that makes him such an inspirational local figure. Never trying to escape, his education of fellow prisoners must surely have provided some semblance of hope and normality for those in the camps.
This blog is produced as part of our "Spirit of Wartime Sherwood" project, supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund. If you have a WWII era story you would like to share or a local tale you would like us to research, please get in touch at susie.johns@sherwoodforesttrust.org.uk