Friday March 26

Friday March 26

#1 is a note about issues in the prisoner of war camp.
#2 is six pages of notes.

1943-03-26

One handwritten sheet and seven handwritten sheets

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MBarraletAF85233-210609-11, MBarraletAF85233-210609-09

[underlined] Frid March 26 [underlined]

Have been without parcels now for 1 wk due to Abredt dept refusing to give food out in tins insisting that all food must be emptied into old tins. G/C backed by whole camp refusal to apply volunteer workers for issuing under such [indecipherable word] conditions. Hence deadlock [indecipherable word] & we await germens to unbend to reason & give us food in new tins & in meantime go hungry. Feel weak now as when I first arrived here very languid and started [indecipherable word]. Spent morning digging up old swede cuttings from [deleted word] [indecipherable word] heap. These where [sic] washed have a certain [indecipherable word] of food in them.

Large raids on Bremen & Hamburg almost every day & night now & see large formations frequently. News very good so what matter the food shortage.

[page break]

SAT 1

Dress rehearsal of Hand & [indecipherable word] – last act – announcement by Harry Hill and Bill [indecipherable word] to be ready to leave in 1 hr.

Flap and now collecting belongings to take not knowing how long or where we have to go. Snatches of food etc a terrific quantity. Last minute suggestion of sledges Knocked up a sledge with Ron” looks fairly successful. Ron and Gordon knock one up too. Then we knock up a third for Art & Mellville. Everyone giving things away boots shoes uniform. lots of Balkan job & cigs. Stuffing ourselves continually with food. Heard we had this to [indecipherable word] so lay down Addressed some of more violent books. Left camp at about 2 pm & collected 1 food parcel and [indecipherable word] 2 months of [two indecipherable words] left by wayside. March started out fast pace in heavy snow. Ronny had certain amount of difficulty with his pack – problems with sledge but this kept overturning & into heavy snow. Marched due south from [indecipherable word] reaching [indecipherable word] As we crossed [two indecipherable words] autobahns [indecipherable word] crack bands of germs all drawn up at side of road equipped in white snow kit with hoods – looked most sinister. Marched thru night with

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2

occasional halts till dawn when we reached [indecipherable word] halted for about 1/2 hr – women brought out [indecipherable word] coffee and gave some to guards – managed to cadge a cupful after them. Passing out of town [two indecipherable words] bartered food parcel for sledges. Reached [indecipherable word] at about 10 [indecipherable word]. [indecipherable word] absolutely enormous with 10,000 Kregies. Parked behind some old sheds and had lunch some kids gave us some warm water, Rumour that we are to be billeted for night terribly cold – everyone tries to arrange billets with civies – not much success generally – find way to a hotel in square. One half full of straw & occupied by Kregies. Other half normal as a cafe room. Went in there & arranged with civies in very warm for 1st time & [indecipherable word] thru radio rather like [two indecipherable words]

S S. troops finally marched up & did not [indecipherable words] with civies & order removal from town. In [indecipherable words] at time when Germans [indecipherable word] ordered everyone out. Most complete on the [indecipherable word] I have ever [four indecipherable words] any idea what is happening. Numerous sledges made at this stage. Finally ordered to hit road at about 2 oclock. Long uphill climb out of town. Just a track encountered Armies from west compound [indecipherable word] & broadside – very cold [two indecipherable words] & fired from [indecipherable word] articles carried with them. Apparently been there for 6 hrs – looked very miserable. Marching for rest of afternoon continually being overtaken by farm wagons of refugees. Remember little

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3

of the details of this part except that halted by an aerodrome & rested for 15 mins very tired. Staggered on some people becoming exceedingly exhausted continually passing officers whose sledges have broken down & others too exhausted to continue & just laing [sic] in snow – these will either fall in at back of column or be picked up by carts. Arrived near some village and which it is rumoured we are to be billeted for night, round about 6pm very cold about -14 & driving snow. Kept waiting with no idea as to what was happening with strong wind whistling thru our clothing. Not even German officers seemed to know what was happening. Finally after 2 1/2 hrs we had neared finishing perhaps 1/2 ml & Scruffy [indecipherable word] came along tried giving encouragement telling us to keep moving and informing us other barns were being found. Most miserable period of my life several with [indecipherable word] years or [indecipherable word] After further part of 1 hr bed [indecipherable words] in time to [indecipherable word] guards. Frenzied rush to get under cover – no instructions as to which building to enter. After staggering around for 10 mins managed to get into small pot [indecipherable word] stove with 14 SA’S. Cleared room of farm implements etc and made enough room to bed down. Had some

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4

feed of bully beef & frozen bread – water bottle still frozen. Farm hand brought in warm water for cigs. Then offered 1/2 litre of Schnapps – further 1/2 lts for 2 bars choc. Accepted offer & felt warm inside for 1st time. Slept like dead men till roused by farmer. Everyone else seemed to be packing & leaving. Had hurried breakfast of cold coffee essence bread & then repacked sledge & got [indecipherable word] nearly almost as much abandoned equip. [indecipherable word] [deleted word] village had further wait of 1 1/2 hrs. Refugees still passing. Slight fall. For 1st time realised the immensity of our column of 10,000. Morning trek fairly reasonable reached [indecipherable word] by lunch time. 1/2 hr halt – repacked sledge with Ronny & pack which I had carried all morning & had found very tiring. Ronny cadged some warm water. Had a snatch of food & drank water plain – no time for coffee. During afternoon snow started again got very cold. Snowfall made sledge pulling heavy going. Ronny too small for this type of march [deleted number] 3 steps to do 2 paces for others Im becoming footsore & tired. Have to do most of sledge pulling myself over heavy snow & over hills as Ronny unable to cope. Getting very very exhausted myself and probably somewhat [indecipherable word]. Find Ronny irritates me – no doubt due to the strained conditions. Hobbling alongside Willy Turner during late afternoon. Reached [indecipherable word] by nightfall. Half hr wait outside town. Cadged some warm water. Moved on into town, which appears to be small industrial town. Good to see buildings

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5.

& lights though whole place looks dismal. Crossed over bridge & saw another party of Krieges waiting for billets. Shouted over for news of Melville & Art. Got answer thru dark from Bob Fairclough who had seen them arrive. Met by [indecipherable word] half way thru town who carted us off into billets – 350 for local [indecipherable word]. Mad rush with sledges up steps and found a pitch in auditorium where all seats were removed. Immediately scouted round for lavatory & was first in on a washbasin where I had swill down from head to foot & felt much better. Terrific queue then formed for washing & lavs which were quite inadequate for so many. Slept very crowded – in morning told probably staying. Everyone fixes sledges – much bartering with kids and civvies for sledges & grub. Stay overnight bartered loaf and apples for soup. Parcels & some rations arrive from Angars. Americans leave for Nuremburg. Stay another night. Rumours one after another as to where we are going Nuremburg, Bremen, [indecipherable words] camp – latter depressed everyone very much. Next day Thurs. more rations rumour of hot meal at Stables in afternoon

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6

Ronny Wilson again saw M.O. wanted to carry on with march but I advised not & to try to get Xpert. Anyway I don’t feel capable of repeating last days [indecipherable word] without much relief as before – much better for both if he gets Xpert, M.O. ordered him to go by Xpert & he left Cinema for [indecipherable word] with the Krauts. In afternoon instead of going for last meal ordered to march again 2 hrs notice finally extended to 4. Left at 10 – reports that sledges would be no good on roads. due to big thaw. Ordered to be prepared to convert to packs. Very hard New [indecipherable word] and runners on my sledge very good now – goes like a bird. Big climb thru town – hardly any ice on road – very hard & disheartening – heading for Spramberg 26 Km away. Slush everywhere – sledge hauling harder and harder. Sweating like a pig. People start to abandon sledges & excess equipment at roadside. Carried on for mile or two [indecipherable word] road surface & finally start [indecipherable word] rise. 5 mins to covert to double pack with parcel at side early. But very heavy 50 – 60 lbs. With [indecipherable word] Smith up to now but he seems to have too many loose packages which he keeps dropping he seems very flustered & hysterical swearing at the German nation at top of his voice [two indecipherable words] in this state & went ahead overtaking in hopes of meeting Melville & Art. Meet many other acquaintances from other billets & after 2 hrs or so notice Melville in front. Halt for few mins & share apple with them. Stay with them from then on. After wait again shown into dirty straw barn at 4am very tired and slept for 4 hrs then roused again. Beautiful morn – more refugees – a very tiring march – shortage of water – inadequate halts, - very very tired – muddy water & dirt everywhere – at halts first sit on muddy roadside – [indecipherable word] for piles. Nearing Spremberg [indecipherable words] with some East camp people pass by station – seems never ending. Finally led to some German training camp rested [indecipherable words] kind of hangar building & was very exhausted & was instantly given some hot glop – 1st hot meal. After 1 1/2 hrs – moved off again for train managed to barter some brot [sic] for cigs with worker. Arr. cattle trucks 5.30 windows sealed. Surprised [indecipherable words] been out with us. Filled water bottle [indecipherable words] on floor – my [indecipherable word] lamp very useful. Had big feed. Art & M talk suffering from [indecipherable words] not feeling like food. Train seems to move quite rapidly and rather [indecipherable word] German Difficult to get guards to open [indecipherable words] at halts people sick [indecipherable words] & suffering from [indecipherable word] 2nd day – Some people very exhausted with sickness & squitters & no water for 36 hrs. Everyone beginning to look pretty bad, but Still OK myself – water bottle has been worth its wt in gold. Middle of afternoon big demand for H20 – gets permission to go to a station tap. Frenzied [indecipherable word] – a pitiful sight, Arr. [indecipherable word] 5 oclock. Started 5 km march to camp very tiring. Begun to feel sick in stomach. Began long and painful wait outside main gate in slush & mud very cold, while searching takes place Felt very low indeed – demand on my water bottle – some greedy slag poured out 1/2 [indecipherable word] when everyone is getting so thirsty. After 2 hrs no water & nearly dying of thirst – why don’t people have more providence. Moved up 5 yds at a time – could not stand had to sit on Melville & Arts cardboard box Never felt so low in all my life staggered in to most dreary & filthy hole which [three indecipherable words] camps. 2 days of misery with stomach trouble [five indecipherable words] a well organised mess. After 2 days feeling better – down to work to get some cleanliness & organising in things. All Krieges very busy – like broken anthill.