Learning to cope with life away from England
This continues on from part one
3rd September 1940. Well a year ago today saw the commencement of this blasted war. How little I dreamed that exactly 12 months later I should be looking out of a heavily barred window gazing at the beautiful surroundings which seem to mock you, the trees, bushes, birds etc, God what wouldn’t we give everyone of us just to be free again and back with the folks.
20th September 1940. It is now almost 8 weeks since I first received my red Cross parcels and just over 14 weeks since I first wrote home, so I should receive a letter and parcel at the beginning of next week, anyway I do hope it works out that way. Have now been in captivity 124 days, just over a quarter of a year, well time certainly flies. On the 18th of this month we received a Red Cross parcel between four.
22nd September 1940. About 800 parcels arrived. Some of the boys have 4 to 6 each, lucky blighters, maybe I’ll get one soon.
21st September 1940. Cheers, this evening at roughly 1800hrs I received my first letter from home - from Doris, hu and uncle - God what a difference a letter can make. In fact its hard to describe the pleasant sensation of receiving one after a silence of almost 18 weeks. I expect I shall receive a letter from Dad and Dorothy sometime this week or the beginning of next, also its time I received my Red Cross parcels for they generally come after the DCLI’s have received theirs, so here’s hoping I get a couple before the end of the month. Am sitting in the Recreation Room and have just . . .
27th October 1940. Had our first taste of winter this morning, “Snow” and believe me its darn cold. Well I’ve received a letter from Dad, Boy and Rose, gosh it makes hellva difference. I do so hope I receive one from Dot soon now.
3rd November 1940. Had a letter from dear old Dot today and was I pleased. Italy, according to the German news, has invaded Greece.
By now I’ve given up all hope of being home for Christmas, which will be my first away from the folks but do so hope to be with them for the next
. Armistice Day 11/11/40. The 2 minute silence was still held by us, the silence being broken by Germans walking about.
12th November 1940. No working parties this morning, officers being searched, or rather their rooms. According to the news the war in Greece is in our favour, and that the Italians have been driven back with heavy losses, and that they are also trying to evacuate Libya and Albania.
25th November1940. Four weeks today is Christmas. I expect it will be more like any other day for us. No mail in the camp, worse luck. Still no Red Cross parcels since 2/8/40 given up hopes of receiving any now. On the 7th of this month I received my first parcel from home, it sure was welcome.
30th November 1940. Have been working out in the town since the 17th of this month at the Steine Rellar on spud sorting. For the last two days snow has fallen, only lightly, thank heavens. According to rumours ol’ Beer Barrel Herman has been reduced and sent to Tittmoning, through him being in possession of English Tea and Sugar etc, besides his rationed allowance. The library opened again today for the first time for 5 or 6 weeks and now have infront of me, “The Orchard of Tears” by Sax Rohmer. Still no mail in the camp, no doubt, or rather I’m hoping to receive a few more before Christmas.
Sunday 1st December 1940. Up at 0900hrs this morning and believe me its darn cold. 2/12/40 some letters have arrived in the camp, hope there’s one for me. For the last two or three days the atmosphere seemed to have made us rather ratty and disagreeable with each other.
Saturday 7th December 1940. Cheers 10,000 letters have arrived in the camp today so by Monday or Tuesday I should have a few more. Yesterday morning and this morning we were greeted by snow. Since the middle of last month I don’t think the rooftops have been clear of snow, still its only an inch deep.
December 8th 1940. Out troops have landed in Athens and in Salonika and consequently the Italians have been thrust back on the left flank. Also the Italian Navy has had a defeat in the Mediterranean Sea, darn good news I think. Well according to everything, I don’t think this war can last 3 winters, at least I damn well hope not, for I hope to be home by October ‘41.
December 12th 1940. I guess the Blockade is taking effect all right, for since Tuesday of this week our tea has been:
Spuds, coffee and a piece of sausage 3” long. Just enough to keep us alive and thats all for our next meal is 19 hours later, i.e. 1100hrs the following day.
December 20th 1940. Have had no letter from now since the 17th of last month, practically praying I receive one before Christmas. At last I’ve received a pair of boots after waiting alomst 4 weeks, and wearing my cycling sandals in place of the clogs I was issued with. On the 18th the weather changed and went to 12ºF and that night to 06ºF. Bloody cold, couldn’t sleep properly owing to the cold and the cramp. Today, however, its 2ºF above. My mate Bob South is in the cells for 10 days, comes out on Christmas Eve. On either Saturday or Sunday there is a general issue of Red Cross parcels - 1 between two - for Christmas. According to the news, we appear to have now pushed the Italians back in Libya capturing A.M.V.s guns and 4,000 prisoners, the dead being darn nigh countless. Just read part of the New York Herald, the first English paper I’ve read in Germany, how it got past the Jerry censor is a mistery. Among the places bombed in London is Great Ormond Street, that's a bit too near to the folks for my liking. Still I expect Louisa and Doris have shifted to Totnes and it would hardly affect Dad.
24th December 1940. This afternoon just after 1400hrs my pal Bob South came out of the clink. Last night all the orderlies attended the pantomime rehearsal it was entitled “McLaddin’s and His Wonderful Lighter”. God I haven’t enjoyed myself so much since my capture - it was so darn good. Had a letter from Dad today dated 1/10/40, it cheered me up a bit especially as its Christmas Eve, and pay-day - 2 Marks, just enough for 2 litres of Lager Beer. The Canteen’s absolutely crowded out and the din is terrific, half a dozen songs being sung at the same time. 2/Lt Rich gave me two * litre discs and there’s Oscar trying to keep order around the bar, which is a pretty hopeless job, just imaging 80 to 100 persons joshing each other in their attempt to reach the bar and only 1 Barkeeper, its just like “Rushhour on the Tube”. “Rule Britannia” and “God save the King” are sung and away to the billets we wend our way. Singing in our billet continues until just after 2330hrs when they make their various beds down and schlafen (sleep).
25th DECEMBER 1940
CHRISTMAS DAY
LAUFEN
Up at 0730hrs and got oue issued Tea, was about to go back to bed when Bob said lets have bacon and beans for breakfast - naturally my mouth watered, so I stopped up. Went to church at 1000hrs, pretty good service - At 1200 hrs we traipsed over to the Officers’ Recreation Room for dinner. There is three tiers of tables and at the far corner is the Dance Band playing “Hold Tight, Hold Tight”. Ha! here's the stuff - * litre of Beer each, now comes the meat soup and mash potatoes, its grand and try a second helping but can’t finish it. A large tin of plums between four and then a ladel full of mixed fruit, saving mine for supper tonight. Half a dozen or so impromptune sketches are given, then the tables and chairs are cleared away for dancing, but Bob and I leave them at it, we’re for bed. At 1630hrs tea is up, I get mine, have a chat and go over to the Officers’ Recreation Room for the Whist Drive. A darn good drive came third with 115, top being 118. Everybody is saying “Well I hope that’s the last Christmas I spend here”. With that thought and of the folks at home we fall asleep.
BOXING DAY - 26th December 1940. Today is just like a Sunday with the usual odd job to be done. Today I feel fedup and homesick for I’ve thought of nothing else but Dad, Doris and Dorothy.
31st December 1940. Well thank Christ this year is almost over. On looking back its been none too good, but I’ve certainly travelled for I spent Easter in London, Whitsun at Abancourt (France), August Bank Holiday in Laufen (Germany) and also Xmas in Laufen; so I’m hoping to spend either August or Xmas Day 1941 in London or at least in England again. Had a letter from Doris today dated 24.11.40 by Airmail. Most of all though I’m wishing for another letter from dear old Dot, the last one being dated 5/9/40. The first of the New Year is held by Jerry like the Scots - so for us it will be another Sunday. Am about to read “Eleven for Danger” by Angus MacVicar.
1941
1st January 1941. For the first time as far as I can remember I’ve seen the New Year in. Jack Lake made us tea about 1115pm last night to stop us from sleeping, and on the stroke of twelve cheering, singing and kicking up a general rumpous commenced. Everybody wishing “A Happy New Year and many of them”, “Lets hope this year will see us home”, Gradually the din dies down and sleep overtakes us. Tea this morning, got mine and back to bed I went. Had a friendly scrap or rather tussed with Joe, Chap and Bill and came off second best, still it was fun.
2nd January 1941. Bob drew a Jugo-Slav parcel this afternoon - pretty good. 4th January 1941. Received another letter from Doris by Airmail today. At last she’s received a letter of mine in reply to hers. The news seems very cheerful. Italy are talking it over with America, Greece and Gt. Britain. A guard yesterday said “Dieser Krieg Fartg im Marz einundvertzig”. Everybody seems confident that it will, so here’s hoping it will.
11th January 1941. Had a pleasant surprise yesterday - a letter from Ivy Genders whom I haven’t seen for nigh on 2* years. All the same it didn’t create as much excitment as would a letter from Dot. Had two Red Cross parcels issued this week, one being an Xmas packet containing a cake and Christmas pudding also Roast Chicken - darn good packet. Went working in Obendorf cinema yesterday and this morning seemed bl---dy good to sit in a cinema again, although no film was being shown. Will probably have a shot at Ice Skating tomorrow afternoon. According to German news, the Jerries intensly dislike American Intervention, they speak about “English Fifth columnists at work in U.S.A.” even if it is, its just tit-for-tat for Fifth Columnists certainly did some good work for the Jerries in France.
18th January 1941. Two more letters this evening, one from Sid and Doris, jolly glad for I was feeling a bit blue. Have now been Ice Skating three times now and am progressing rather well.
27th January 1941. Today I’m 23, and hope I never spend another birthday in this blasted country. On Saturday afternoon (25/1/41) an English Officer by name of 2/Lt Dear was shot by a sentry on the pretence he was either signalling or leaning out of the window, the bullet entered just by his mouth coming out at the back of his head. The sentry fired two shots, the first being almost 6” away from the opened window, the second settled it. The American Embassy have been informed of this and their representative is expected to enquiry into this bit of trouble. The weather for the last three or four days has been quite mild, but today snow has again fallen.
If you wish in this world to advance
Your merits you’re bound to enhance
You must stir it, and stump it
And blow your own trumpet
Or, believe me, you haven’t a chance
Satirists in
Ruddigore
50 yr ago.
28th January 1941. The Officer mentioned above was buried this afternoon at 1500hrs. These days I can’t stop worrying about the folks at home. For the last letter I’ve had from Doris was dated 1/12/40 sent by Airmail, and it strikes me as if something has happened to someone, well really I don’t know what to think, but I pray to God nothing has changed at home. I only I could get a letter from them dated after the 1st December, for I sure would feel a lot easier.
5th February 1941. A new system has been inaugurated by which our letters can be sent by Airmail to England. These letters and PCs are forwarded to Mrs Camplies at Lisbon (Portugual) who sends them by Air, this costs 2/6d a month; yesterday I sent a trial letter to Dad by this route. Cheers, last night I received a letter from Louisa dated 27/12/40 and believe me this brought me a happier frame of mind. Her writing though is still as undecipherable as usual.
17th February 1941. Last night I attended a Symphony Concert of Schulbert and it was masterful.
19th February 1941. An absolutely glorious day, deep blue sky - in fact a typical spring day. The mountains seemingly appearing unnatural owing to the many colours, trulyuts worth photographing or painting these mountains with the rising sun casting its beams upon their precipitous sides.
23rd February 1941. On the 3rd of this month I received a parcel from Turkey containing 2,000 cigarettes, 4 pkts Figs and 6pkts raisins. According to the news received yesterday, the Italians have now lost Tripoli and Adais Ababa and their dead in Libya amounts to 40,000 the wounded being so many they so far haven’t had sufficient time to check up numbers. It is stated in the German Newspapers that the downfall of the Italian Empire must be expected very shortly. So here’s hoping it does. There’s one sunbject I must write about and that is the spirit in which the boys keep . . . . . . . .
PAGES TORN OUT BY GERMAN CENSORS.
. . . . . of a big move has been nailed. TT Orderlies and 500 Officers are being shifted to a camp at Posen in Poland, but when they’re leaving this camp is a puzzle. Monday the 3rd is a possibility. Amongst those going is Bob South, Sgt Greenaway, Tiny Tich Longergan and a host of other pals. Italian Newspapers are now controlled by Jerries owing to their giving too much information away. Mussolini admitted the other day in his speech that they (the Italians) had lost their Empire. A million English and Greek soldiers are in Albania; its romoured that Haile Salassie is back on the throne in Abyssinia.
March 8th 1941. The big move has now taken place. There are roughly only 650 officers and men left in this camp. It certainly is helluva lot quieter now; this move took place on Tuesday 4th at 0530hrs.
March 27th 1941. Yugo-Slavia nas signed the 3 Power Pact with Germany. Although it is stipulated that German troops will not enter their country, but I very much doubt his keeping to that promise owing to his previous actions, i.e. the pact with Denmark was broken ten weeks after it was signed. Had a letter yesterday from Dear Old Dorothy, the second from her. No doubt within a week or so I shall receive others from Dad and Doris. According to the German News they’ve sunk so much of our shipping that it seems we owe some ships to be sunk. At the moment I’m hanged if I can foresee the end of this bloody war. Previously I had hoped to be home in October of this year, but now I extend it until August 1942.
3rd April 1941. Yugo-Slavia is now the main topic of speech. According to the news received last night from various quarters, anti-German and pro-British demonstrations have been taking place throughout that country. They are now all pro-British with the exception of one small party, which it is expected to give in. Troops, tanks, and planes passed this camp continously yesterday afternoon. An American speech says they’ll help in materials, financially and economically. More troops have left Britain for Africa, Crete and Greece.
April 9th 1941. Gt Britain has declared war on Bulgaria. Yugo-Slavia is at war with Germany. Almost 24hrs before the damn Germans entered Yugo’, Russia signed a non-aggression lact with Yugo’. So at the moment Russia is literally sitting on a shaking fence. Snow has fallen for the last 2 days continuously and still it comes. April 20th 1940. 12 months ago today I left Southampton on the Tynewald for France. Letters & parcels are pretty frequent. My second clothing parcel arrived on Wednesday 16th. Big Iti-German transport sunk in Mediterranean. Air raids by England and Germany now being carried out by 500-1000 planes by daylight. April 30th 1941. According to news just received, America has allotted 13 million dollars of credit to Britain.
May 20th 1941. The Italian Prince who has been causing the trouble in Abbyssina has fled. Salom,the last port in Libya, is very much in the news for it is being continously taken and retaken by Germany and then the English. 54 Orderlies are expected here this week. Today is the first day of the beginning of my second year in captivity. Had a letter from Rose containing a photo of the kids, gosh they’ve certainly sprung since I last saw them 14 months ago.
May 21st 1941. It has just been given out on parade (0930hrs) that the Island is closed for a few days owing to two officers escaping from the Outside Hospital. God I hope they make it, wish I could have been with them. The new batch of orderlies are expected about Friday, so far they have been travelling 3 days. In a letter to Watters from Mrs McDade, Joe Greenaway wishes he was back here at Laufen, so things can’t be so good at Posen.
May 24th 1941. This afternoon 1530hrs the two officers who escaped were captured about 70 kilos from here. Damn rotten luck. They escaped from the outside hospital as escape from this camp is practically impossible. The new draft arrive this afternoon (25/5/41) about 1700hrs. Yesterday I saw the play “Behind the Scenes” with Wally Finlayson, Bobby Loder, Brian McIovine, Raymond Grace, Peter Spearing - its the very best show ever put on here, it was so damn good, that its being enacted again on Monday 26th 1941.
June 3rd 1941. The new orderlies have arrived and now have settled down in their new surroundings. Sgt Collins of my Regiment being amongst them. It is evident that ‘Stalag’ treatment is not all ‘above aboard’. According to the general trend of the news, America is doing everything possible for us, outside of declaring war on Germany. They are even escorting their merchant ships by Destroyer to Gt Britain. In my opinion America will enter the war at the end of the year.
June 22nd 1941. At 0600hrs this morning Germany & Italy declared war on Russia. Russian troops have attacked in 3 places, i.e. Romania, Poland & E.Prussia. Thank God we have an Ally at long last. Evidently my note on April 9th 1941 was not without foundation.
July 18th 1941. German hate for the Russians is becoming more and more, calling them Barbarians, Bloody Butchers, etc. Germany has had to take all except her Pioneer tps from Greece & Jugoslavia, which are replaced by Italians. Food here is scarce, no potatoes until this years crop is ready, so thank heavens we’ve Red Cross parcels.
Japan’s pro-Nazi cabinet has resigned and a cabinet of pro-Brit members has taken its place. America has given orders for any of their planes or ships to bring down and sink any of German planes and ships. A million Germans have either been killed or wounded since their campaign with USSR. Syria is now completely in our hands, the French having signed an Armistice with us.
August 24th 1941. Smolensk has just fallen to the Jerries after 43 major operations. We are carrying out bombing in North Germany, Italy and the East Front.
August 31st 1941. Russians have pushed Jerry out of Smolensk and the Jerrys are now making another offensive against this town. Iran is now under British Control. The war has now been on for two years toda, and 2 years by date on Wednesday 3rd Sept. October 26th 1941. After 4 false starts we have finally left Laufen and are now just outside Warburg in Westphalia. Travelled in cattle trucks from Laufen, 26 in each truck, so we weren’t too uncomfortable except at night with the cold and the lack of sleeping space. Lt Moir and another Officer escaped whilst train still in motion, but were captured two days later. Another Officer tried to escape whilst train was stationary by crawling under the truck but was seen and shot through the legs as he fell back with his hands up the b_ _ _ _ guard fired again this time the bullet entering his chest which finished him; a shot that had ricocheted got a guard in the throat and made him a corpse otherwise the journey was uneventful.
Cont in Book II
[Book II lost]
England, my England, my soul, my life
My heart beats for you in joy or strife
You gave me, Dear England, a bed, a home
To return to no matter where I chance to roam
In poverty or wealth, on land or sea
Winning or losing, my thoughts are with thee
Though undeserving of favours, there’s one thing I crave
When I die, my England, may your earth be my grave.
Warbung
28.2.42
(Camp)
WK
