1915

5^th July 1915.  Inspection of the Battalion by Brigadier-General Cowper, G.O.C. Poona Divisional Area.

15^th July 1915.  Lieut. E.P. Hardy and the Machine Gun Section proceeded to Satara.

16^th July 1915.  One officer and 26 other ranks proceeded from Kirkee to Bombay as escort to ammunition train.

19^th July 1915.  One officer and 26 other ranks proceeded from Kirkee to Bombay as escort to ammunition train.

31^st July 1915.  “A” and “C” Companies, under the command of Captain J.E.C. Graham, returned to Headquarters.  The Detachment suffered very severely from malaria fever whilst stationed at Kirkee.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

31^st JULY, 1915.

579 – District Court-Martial –

            The District Court-Martial directed to assemble in Brigade Order No. 550 of 25^th July, 1915, of which Major E.K. Purnell. 23^rd (S.) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish), was President, is hereby dissolved.

580 – District Court-Martial –

            The detail of Officers as mentioned below will assemble at the Court-Martial Room, The Havens, North Demesne, Alnwick, on  the 3^rd August, 1915, at 10 a.m., for the purpose of trying by a District Court-Martial the accused persons named in the margin [and such other person or persons as may be brought before them] :-

PRESIDENT

Major A.G. Niven, 21^st (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2^nd Tyneside Scottish.)

MEMBERS

A Captain, 20^th (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st Tyneside Scottish.)

A Captain, 21^st (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2^nd Tyneside Scottish.)

The accused will be warned, and all witnesses duly required to attend.

The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank,” Alnwick.

The Officers Commanding 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd, and 23^rd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Tyneside Scottish.) will each detail three Officers to attend for instructional purposes.

In the margin.  No. 21/609 Private. W. Wright, 21^st (S.) Battalion, Northd. Fus. (2^nd Tyneside Scottish); No./ 22/518 Pte. W. Brown 22^nd (S) Bn. Northd Fus (3^rd Tyneside Scottish);  No. 22/1568 Pte. A. Smith, 22^nd (S.) Btn. Northd. Fus. (3^rd Tyneside Scottish) .

581 – Recruiting Meetings – Details of –

            In addition to the Recruiting Meeting detailed in Brigade Order No. 576 of 30^th July, 1915, the following meetings will also be held.

Pipe Bands will be detailed to attend these meetings.

Officers Commanding Units to which the Bands so detailed belong will send an Officer and two Recruiting Sergeants to accompany the Band.

Place                 Date.  Time of Meeting.                           Band.

Rothbury .                August 1^st     7-30 p.m. 20^th (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st Tyneside Scottish).

Morpeth.                    August 4^th    7-30 p.m. 23^rd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish).

582 – Musketry Scoring Books –

            With reference to Brigade Order No. 573 of 29^th inst., it is found that by obtaining these scoring books by the thousand a very considerable reduction in price is obtainable.  Officers Commanding Units will be good enough to report to Brigade Headquarters the number of copies required, when an order to cover the whole will be given to Messrs McQueen and Co.  The price per 1,000 is £5, carriage paid to nearest station.  They should be sold at 1¼d. each and the difference in price credited to the Regimental Institute Funds.

583 – Battalion Mess in Camp –

            In view of the approaching move of the Battalions to Musketry Camps at Hornsea and Whitburn, Officers Commanding Units will take steps to ensure that the correct procedure as regards the serving of meals in Camp, as laid down in circular issued with Army Book 48 A to all Units yesterday, is carried out.

The Brigade Commander wishes Commanding Officers to give their personal attention to this question.

584– Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

DISCHARGES –

            No discharges from the Regular Army or Territorial Force under King’s Regulations, Paragraph 392, iii (C.), or on medical grounds will, for the present, be carried out in the United Kingdom without War Office sanction.  Nominal Rolls of all men whose discharge is recommended by General Officers Commanding or Medical Officers will be submitted weekly to the War Office, on Wednesday, by General Officers Commanding Brigades or Garrisons, and Commanders acting in a similar capacity.  The Rolls should state the man’s number, name, Unit, date and place of attestation, age on enlistment, paragraph and sub-paragraph of King’s Regulations under which discharge is proposed, and brief particulars of the medical or other cause of discharge.  Rolls dealing with Medical Cases, which should only be those of men unfit for Home Service, will be kept separate from those dealing with other discharges, and will be accompanied by the reports of Medical Boards, A.F. B. 179, when these have been held, or by A.F. B. 204 in other cases.  In the case of Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry of the Regular Army, applications for discharge under sub-paragraph iii (C.), of paragraph 392, King’s Regulations, will only be put forward by Officers Commanding Depots and “Rejoining Units”, to which men whose discharge is thought desirable under this sub-paragraph, must be posted as directed in War Office letter 19/General Number/5267 (A.G. 1), dated 19^th June, 1915.  An exception to this course will, however, be permitted in the case of men of the New Armies, including the Fourth New Army, whose discharge is recommended under King’s Regulations, paragraph 392 iii. (C.), on the ground that they are medically unfit both for Foreign and Home Service.  Applications for the discharge of these men maybe put forward from the New Army Unit in which they are serving.  Officers in Charge of Records will bring to notice any discharges carried out in contravention of these orders.

Authority, War Office telegram, No. 4164 (A.G. 2 B.), dated 26^th July, 1915 (19/General Number/5431).

C.R.N.C. No. 66037 (A.I.).  Northern Command Order No.1401.

“LONDON GAZETTE” –

The following extract from the “London Gazette” of Tuesday, 27^th July, 1915, is published for information:-

Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment)–

(Tees-side Pioneers). – The undermentioned to be temporary Second Lieutenants:-

Cecil Howard MacNay.  Dated 28^th June, 1915.

Charles Philip Miller.  Dated 3^rd July, 1915.

            Northern Command Order No.1408.

VEHICLES –

All vehicles in possession of Units will be marked in accordance with paragraph 445. and Appendix XX., Equipment Regulations, Part I., 1912.

C.R.N.C. No 74639 (O.S.) Northern Command Order 1409.

MEMORANDUM ON MESSING OF TROOPS AND AVOIDANCE OF WASTE –

            Attention is called to the above Memorandum which is issued with these Orders.

All future cases brought to notice of mismanagement in the case of Units that have had reasonable time to evolve a proper system of interior economy will be regarded as reflecting on the administrative abilities of the regimental authorities concerned.        

Authority, War Office letter 53/General Number/357 (C.I.Q.M.G.S.), dated 23^rd July, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 73605 (I.Q.S.).  Northern Command Order No.1410.

585 – Command Orders – Attention called to –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Northern Command Orders 1411 and 1413 of 30^th July, 1915.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

30^th JULY, 1915.

576 – Recruiting Meetings – Details of –

            Recruiting Meetings will be held as stated below.  Pipe Bands will be detailed to attend these meetings.  Captain H.B. Goater, Grouped Depot Companies, and 2 Recruiting Sergeants will accompany the Band.

Place                 Date.  Time of Meeting.                           Band.

Newton-by-the-Sea.  August 3^rd   7-30 p.m. 23^rd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish).

Alnwick.                     August 4^th    7-45 p.m. 22^nd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish).

Eglingham.                 August 5^th   7-45 p.m. 20^th (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st Tyneside Scottish).

Felton.                        August 6^th   7-45 p.m. 23^rd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish).

Shilbottle.                    August 7^th    7-45 p.m. 22^nd (S.) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish).

577– Command Orders – Attention called to –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Northern Command Orders 1395, 1398, and 1404 of 29^th July, 1915.

578 – Extracts from Divisional Orders –

PASSES –

            A large number of the troops proceeding on pass have the counterfoils of their passes which should have been left with their respective units.

            A large number of passes are not stamped with the Orderly Room Stamp.

In future all passes must be stamped by the Orderly Room and have their counterfoils detached before they are handed to the men.

            Divisional Order No.40. of July, 1915.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

28^th JULY, 1915.

566 – District Court-Martial –

            The detail of Officers as mentioned below will assemble at the Court-Martial Room, the Haven, North Demesne, Alnwick, on Friday, 30^th July, 1915, at 10 a.m. for the purpose of trying by District Court-Martial the accused person named in the margin:-

PRESIDENT

Major P.B. Norris, 22^nd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish.)

MEMBERS

A Captain, 20^th (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st Tyneside Scottish.)

A Captain, 21^st (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2^nd Tyneside Scottish.)

The accused will be warned, and all witnesses duly required to attend.

The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank” Alnwick.

The Officers Commanding 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd, and 23^rd (S.) Battalions, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Tyneside Scottish.) will each detail three officers to attend for instructional purposes.

In the margin.  No. 23/1522 Pte. W.H.A. Nicholson, 23^rd (S.) Btn, Northd. Fus. (4^th Tyneside Scottish).

567 – Divisional Cyclist Company –

            Officers Commanding Units will arrange that the Officer, Non-commissioned Officers and men selected for service with the Divisional Cyclist Company shall be amongst the first to fire their musketry course, in order that after the completion of their course they will be available to join the Divisional Cyclist Company at short notice.

568– Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

CLOTHING – SOLDIERS PENDING DISCHARGE –

            Reference to paragraph 7, of Army Order 94, of 1915, cases have occurred of men being sent, pending discharge, on furlough or to nursing institutions, and remaining in possession of their uniform clothing.

The Army Order above quoted applies equally to such cases, and that under no circumstances should such soldiers be permitted to remain in possession of uniform clothing.

Authority, War Office letter A.C.D./Northern/115 (Q.M.G. 7), dated 21^st July, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 73361 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order No.1381.

569 – Command Orders – Attention called to –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Northern Command Order No. 1382 of 27^th July 1915.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

for

British Prisoners

I had no shoes, and I murmured until I saw a man, who had no feet. 

“Old Arabian Proverb”

KRIEGSGEFANGENENLAGER Luft 7

This book belongs to

Sgt. Ernest Wilkinson, R.A.F.

No. 2211329  P.O.W. No. 136.L.7.

1068 Bury Rd., Breightmet

Boulton Lancashire.

Y.M.C.A.

F.B. “Nobby” Clark

69 Blackbush Ave

Chadwell Heath

Essex

D.W.L. Brown

Vermillion

Alberta

Canada

W. McBurney

Gull Lake

Saskatewan

Canada

Taken prisoner by the Germans in the Pyrenees, 8 miles from the Spanish Border, on the 19^th of April 1944.  If we had left our hiding place 10 minutes later, we would probably have made Spain in about 4 hours.  But we walked right into the arms of a German Patrol, who asked for our papers, but as we had none, we could not show them, so we had, “had it”.

The soldier who searched me on finding a 6” Bowie knife stuck in the waist band of my pants gave a shout, and jumped back about 6 ft, there was then a clicking of rifle bolts, and each man in the patrol shoved a round up the spout.  We certainly expected being shot then and there, but luckily for us they were not a trigger-happy crowd, and no shots were fired.  When he saw my uniform, which I had on underneath the civvy suit that I was wearing, he jumped back again and yelled “Ah Englander”.  After the search one of the Jerries very kindly handed round his cigarettes.

They then marched us for about 4 miles to their H.Q. which was O.K. by us as they had to march too, and could not ride their bikes.  On reaching their H.Q. we were treated very well by the Officers, who gave us beer (which was like water) and cigarettes.  Whilst we were there waiting for an interrogation officer to come and question us, one of the officers told us in broken English and French, that after the war was over England would be swallowed up by America, we of course said that it would be better than being swallowed up by Germany.

The interrogation officer finally came, and he got a little peeved because he could get nothing out of us, we were threatened with the Gestapo and all the rest of it, but it made no difference.  They could do nothing like that as we were in uniform.

A guard of nine men came at about two A.M. to take us to prison in Bayonne.  Each of them was equipped with a tommy gun or rifle, and every-one of them had two potato mashers in his belt, they did not mean to let us escape.  We arrived at the jail in Bayonne at about two thirty A.M., and we were put in a cell about ten ft wide, by fourteen ft long, where we remained until the fifth of May.  The treatment we received off the guards was pretty fair but the grub was lousy.  We were fed on, a cup of ersatz coffee for Breakfast, two course lunch consisting of two ½ bowls of cabbage soup, thin and thick, and about an eighth of a small loaf each.  We had late dinner at about eight P.M. which was, half a bowl of thin cabbage soup and half a bowl of beans, which were pretty good.  On the first day half of the grub which we got for lunch went down the drain, but after we had been there a few days we were not leaving a scrap, we were waiting behind the door of the cell when it was brought round, and we could not get enough to eat.

We had been in there two days, when two Yanks were put out in the exercise yard, on which our cell window looked, and we had a good chat with them, and they were glad to hear English voices for a change.

An the afternoon of the 5^th of May we were given our civilian clothes again, and told to put them on as we were being moved.  At 6 P.M. we were taken out of our cell and taken into the jail office where we were chained together in two’s.  We were given enough food to last us for the journey, and were then marched to the station, with the two Yanks and another Yank who had been brought in a few days previously.  Whilst we were in this jail, at Bayonne, we did not have a shave, or a smoke for about 14 days, and we looked like tramps.

The train journey lasted about 15 hours, and the guards treated us very well giving us cigarettes and buying us a pint bottle of beer each.  We finally arrived in Paris where we were taken to Fresnes Jail, where the seven of us were put in two cells until the following day, when we were taken out for a shower and to have our clothes fumigation.  The rear gunner and myself were then put in a cell with three Frenchmen who had been sentenced to various terms of labour in Germany.  They could not speak English and we could not speak French, but we managed to understand each other by means of signs, and drawings on the wall.  We were with them for two days, they were very nice fellows too.

On the 8^th of May we were taken out again and all our personal possessions taken from us, and we were put into separate cells, and treated as military prisoners.  What happened to the Yanks I do not know as that was the last we saw of them.  They were in civvys, so they must have been treated as civilian prisoners and taken to another part of the jail.  Although we were in solitary confinement we were treated very well, and the food was good, we received German Military Rations, we also had books to read and three cigarettes a day.  We also got a shave once a week.  But we got no exercise, except what we could get walking up and down the cell, which was seven paces each way.  We only got out in the exercise yard for half an hour, all the time we were there.

The air raid alarm sounded frequently while we were there, and we used to stand at our cell windows and watch the fortresses and Liberators going over, and wish that we were up there with them.  One Saturday evening Jerry was caught with his pants down, the alert and the all clear went three times, after the third all clear, the Yanks came over and caught Jerry napping.  The jail shook like a jelly every time a cluster of bombs hit the deck.  We could even see the bombs leave the aircraft, and could see them all the way down.  One Fortress was hit by Flak and we saw one man bale out, I think he must have fallen about sixteen or seventeen thousand feet, before he pulled the rip cord.  But he made it safely, I met him afterwards, when we were on our way to Frankfurt, and we had quite a chat.

We were moved from Paris on the evening of the 5^th June 1944.  There were nine of us in uniform, we were taken out and put in a coach, and one of the chaps, I found to be an old friend of mine, who had been shot down a month after us.

We left Fresnes Jail at about 5 P.M. and went right through the centre of the town, to the Luftwaffe Hospital, where we picked up another five or six men, one being an Englishman, and the rest Americans, one of the Americans was the chap who we had seen bale out of the Fortress on the previous Saturday evening, he was rather badly burned about the face.  His name was Ben Tureman, and his parents originated from Lancashire.  I hope to see him again after this lot is over.  After seeing some of the boys who we picked up at that Hospital I thank God that I got out with nothing more than a sprained shoulder.  One lad in particular had baled out of a Liberator in a ball of fire and he was terribly burned about the face and hands.  The Englishman turned out to be a Yorkshireman called Harry Hargreaves and he came from Batley, and he is on this camp.

We finally arrived at the station, and boarded a train for Frankfurt.  While we were waiting for the train to start the alert sounded and practically everyone got off the train again and ran for shelter.  It was a troop train too.  The train got going eventually one hour and forty minutes late.

The journey to Frankfurt was uneventful except for a little incident which occurred early in the morning of the 6^th when the flak guns mounted on a truck at the rear of the train opened up at an aircraft going over, and we stopped in a cutting for an hour.  We finally arrived in Frankfurt, after a journey lasting about seventeen hours.

We got to the interrogation centre at about six thirty in the evening of the 6^th June, and we were again searched and all the food which we had with us even including Red Cross parcels was taken off us and we never saw it again.  Which was rather a poor show I thought, as we had practically nothing to eat whilst we were there.  I was then put in a little cell about ten ft long by six ft wide and left there, until next morning when I was taken out, and asked to fill in a form, which they said was a Red Cross registration form, but I thought the Red Cross wanted to know to much, so I gave them nothing but No. Rank, and name, and home address, and when I told him that I had been registered with the Red Cross while in Paris, he said it was a form for my identification.  He was very persuasive, but it got him nowhere, so I was taken back to my cosy little room, and stayed there until the following afternoon, when I was taken out again for interrogation.

When I walked into the office, the officer who was to question me said “Ah, Sgt. Wilkinson,” I said “Yes Sir”, and he said “I have been waiting for you for a month, which rather shook me.

After spending four days in this place I was transferred along with a number of other chaps to a Transit Camp at Wetslau, where we had a good meal for a change.  We spent eight days at this camp, where we were really well fed thanks to the Red Cross.  On the ninth day thirty five of us were put in a converted cattle van, and the next three days were spent in this van, in which we travelled to the permanent prison camp at Baukan, which is eight miles from the Polish Border in Eastern Germany.  We arrived at this place at about seven in the evening of the twentieth of June, and we were searched, photographed, and had our fingerprints taken for about the fourth time.  We finally got into the camp, and made the camp strength up to 140.  We were billeted in small huts six to a hut and we slept on palliasse on the floor.  It is a good job it was summer.  The Jerry rations were very good, and we were also getting a Red Cross parcel per man per week, and 50 cigarettes per week.  We stayed in this temporary camp until the 13-10-44, when we moved just down the road to our winter quarters, which were good.  We were put 14 in a room, and we slept on bunks.  The German rations continued to be good.  But the Red Cross issue was cut to ½ parcel per week, on account of transport difficulties.  We spent quite a good Xmas considering the circumstances.  We did not do to badly for food all the time we were at this camp.  Then came the retreat from “Joe”, which I have recorded briefly elsewhere.

Nov 5 1944.  Was the best day we have had for meals since I was taken prisoner.  For Breakfast Porridge Sausage, Bacon and egg.  Bread and butter and tea and jam.

Dinner Stew.  Consisting of 2 tins cottage pie, potatoes and cabbage.  Bread butter and jam.

Tea.  Potatoes, meat stew, apple pudding & creamed rice, bread butter, jam and cocoa.

We also had tea and bread and butter at 11 am and at 3 pm.  We *** still to have bread and butter and cheese for supper.  Boy! am I full.

RATIONS FOR 22 DAYS

2 2/5 LOAVES OF BREAD

4 PKTS KRACKERS

1 PKT DOG BISCUITS

7/10 OF 2 KILO TIN MEAT.

1/18  “  3LB GERMAN SAUSAGE.

¾      “   1 KILO BLOCK MARG.

¼      ”    1 KILO BLOCK HONEY.

1 CUP OF OATS.

2 SPOONS FLOUR.

5      ”          BARLEY.

1      ”          SUGAR.

2      ”          COFFEE (ERSATZ)

3 LB POTATOES

½ CUP SOUP PER DAY FOR 10 DAYS

3 CUPS COFFEE.

RATIONS AT STALAG IIIA

DAILY.

1 CUP GERMAN TEA OR COFFEE.

2/3 KLIM TINFUL OF SOUP.

1/5 LOAF OF BREAD.

1/20 BLOCK OF MARG.

1 SPOONFULL OF SUGAR.

NO RED CROSS ISSUE.

Although other nationalities on the camp receive a parcel per week.

HOW WE RAN FROM “JOE”

This is a short account of how Stalagluft 7 was evacuated, and the privations that were suffered by the 1500 PsO.W. who were forced to march for 18 days on very little food.

The first indication we had that the camp was to be evacuated, was at about 1030 AM on the morning of Tuesday, Jan 16^th 1945, when everyone was told to pack, and be ready to move within an hour.  This was done and everyone was ready, but we did not move that day, we were told that we would be moving either late that night or early next morning.  We were still there on the Thursday night, when we were told that we would definitely be moving at 0500 hrs the next morning.

At 0500 hrs the next morning Friday the 19^th Jan 1945 everyone was assembled outside on the parade ground, and the march was started, to the sound of the Russian guns in the distance.  It was a bitterly cold morning with a gale blowing from the South East, it was a wind which went right through.  We started from Bankau with rations which Jerry said had to last for 2 days, and he promised us faithfully that rations would be forthcoming regularly throughout the trip, and of course we believed him, as we really could not do anything else.  Anyway we started marching, through 6 inches of snow and the biting wind, and the temperature at about 10^o below zero.

The snow on the road was packed hard and was frozen, and it was very difficult at times to keep on ones feet.  We marched that morning as far as Konstadt where we turned off the main road to Breslau into a side road, which lead to a place called Winterfeld where we arrived at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, we had travelled 22 Km, which was pretty good going.  About 150 of us were crammed into a small barn, with no light, but we did manage to get a slice of bread and spam, which was the first bite to eat that we had had since breakfast.  We then settled down to sleep, but suddenly, down came about a ton of straw, and two of my mates Don Grey and Ron Henry were buried underneath it with part of our rations.  We dug the two boys out, and also the biggest part of our rations, the rest we had to give up for lost, which was rather a hard knock, and for the rest of the night sleep was impossible.

Sat Jan 20^th.  We were called out at 0500 hrs and were on the road again at 0530 hrs.  A lot of the boys had now decided to travel light, and had jettisoned a lot of their kit, I myself had done the same, keeping just my blankets, shaving kit, a couple of towels, a shirt and vest and a few bars of soap.  We started marching again to the sound of the Russian guns which were not more than 15 to 20 kilometres away.  The weather was a little better, the wind having dropped, for which we were thankful.  We managed about 13 Kms by noon when we turned into a disused brick factory in a place called Karlsruhe.  We were a bit better off for room here as we could get stretched out.  We also managed to get a little food into us, and a couple of brews.

At eight o’clock that night we were called out again, and were told that we had to cross the River Oder before the bridges were blown up at dawn.  The Oder was 34 Kms away, and the temperature was steadily getting lower.  By the time we had covered 10 Kms a lot of the boys were in pretty bad shape, one of my own mates, Bob Pearce collapsed, and we had to leave him by the roadside, to be picked up by the crank wagon, which was following behind us.  The temp was now well below zero and frost was forming on our coats and on the whiskers round our mouths.  The moisture in our breath was freezing as we breathed it out.  Two more of my mates Don Gray and Norm Wilmot had by this time dropped to the rear of the column.  Don because he had got a slight dose of dysentery and was frequently dropping his slacks, and “Willy” Wilmot because his feet were sore and blistered.  We finally crossed the River just before dawn and found that we had to go another 5 Kms to the place where we were to stay the day and following night.  When we got there, we were told that we would have to go on for another 7 Kms as there was no accommodation for us.  The majority of us were by this time practically out on our feet, and that added 7 Kms was a nightmare.  We finally reached the place and were herded into a stable where we had to sleep on the floor, with just a little straw underneath us before going to sleep we had a much needed two slices of bread and a little meat which we had managed to save.  We woke up at dusk and finished the rest of our rations, hoping that Jerry would fulfil his promise to get us more that day he did to the extent of two handful of small dog biscuits per man.  We then went to sleep again to be wakened at 0200 hrs on Monday the 22^nd, and told that we had to move as the Russians had crossed the Oder to the north of us and there would probably be fighting in the vicinity before long.  A lot of the chaps wanted to stay there and take a chance, and a few shots were fired before they were finally persuaded to move.  We eventually got on the move.  (The boys who were sick only got as far as the Hospital on the other side of the town, where they were left, and we have heard nothing more of them.  We presume that they are now in the hands of the Russians).

Anyway we started and staggered along for about 15 Kms to a large barn at a place called Jenkwitz, where we bedded down again.  At this place we got our first ½ cup of stew from the field Kitchen, also some marg and a biscuit from Jerry.  We also found some wheat and some carrots which we promptly pinched.  We made a bit of porridge (of sorts) with the wheat, and some pea powder which we had saved.  We also managed a few spuds which we roasted.

Tuesday 23^rd.  We left Jenkwitz early in the morning and marched all day covering a distance of 24 Kms, and arrived at a place called Wassen.  I do not recall much about these places.  But I do remember that here we got our first bread ration which was a ¼ of a loaf each, and a bit of marg.

The next day, the 24^th we did not move.  We had a rest, which we spent baking spuds and making brews.  We also managed to get three half cupsful of soup from the field kitchens.

Thursday 25^th.  We left Wassen at 5 AM and had another long and hungry march to Heidersdorf which was 22 Kms away.  We stayed at this place for two nights, and got a bread ration of 1/5 of a loaf per man, and three more half cupsful of soup from the field kitchens.  Every one of us by this time was feeling very hungry, I know I was.  Here we also filled up with spuds again, but they did not stop our hunger.

Saturday 27^th.  We marched all day and arrived at Pfaffendorf in the dark, and were lucky to get a bed space.  About 1450 of us being crammed into two small barns.

Sunday 28^th.  We were off again in the early morning, feeling hungrier than ever, and passed through a large town called Sweidnitz at about 8 am.  Here some more of the sick were dropped off, including Bob Pearce who had been travelling with the crank wagon for the last few days.  We kept going and arrived after marching 22 Kms at Standorf.  By this time I was feeling rough and unkempt and the rest of the boys were the same.  They were the most disreputable crowd I have ever seen.  The weather was still cold, and there was plenty of snow.  Here we were issued with a packet of Knacke Brot biscuits each and some marg.  The biscuits were just like Matgas.  We stayed at Standorf a night and a day, and here we got the very welcome news, that there would be transport for us at the next place.  We knew what Jerry’s promises were by now and said we would believe it when we saw it.

At 6 PM on Monday the 29^th we marched again into the snow.  After travelling 6 Kms we were issued with two more packets of Knacke Brot.  This got us mad as we had been promised bread, and the biscuits were but a poor apology.  This night march was the worst of the lot, a blizzard sprang up and the snow was thicker than ever, it was over a foot deep on the ground.  We saw a dead Jerry lying beside the road, frozen to death.  We marched until 7 am and covered 22 Kms.  Our blankets were wet through and so were our clothes and boots and socks.  We were the most miserable bunch imaginable.  Our only consolation was, that we got a good lot of bed spaces.  We stayed at this place (Peterwitz) and starved, no German ration were forthcoming.  On the next day Wednesday we got a bread and marg ration 1/6^th of a small loaf and a raw potato.  My bread ration was eaten as soon as I received it.  I managed to get 3 thin slices out of it, and I was still hungry.  My belt buckle by this time was making my spine sore, it was so tight.  We also got a small piece of gristle each which we wolfed with great relish.  We stayed until Thursday the 1^st of Feb and lived on some dirty sugar beet and what we got from the field kitchen, which was not much.

We were told that we had one more march of 18 Kms and then we would travel by train.  At dawn 2^nd Feb we started this last march, and through mud and slush, because of the thaw we trudged along, and reached Ober Planzwitz at noon.  Here we were told we would wait until the transport was ready for us.  We were lucky again as regards bed spaces finding rather comfortable ones in a corner of a barn, and we were quite warm.  But the rations were very few and far between.  Here we stayed until Monday.  On the Sunday we got reasonable rations for once 1/3^rd of a loaf and 1/3 of a tin of meat per man as well as a little barley, sugar, and flour which we promptly made up into porridge, and really enjoyed it.  but we were not told how long the bread, meat and marg had to last.

At 5 am on Monday 5^th Feb we started on the last 5 Kms, to our entraining point, a place called Goldberg.  This brought our mileage up to 150 miles.  We were herded into cattle trucks, and a new kind of hell started, there were 56 of us in a truck and we could barely sit down.  We were also issued with a further 1/12^th of a loaf each which was immediately eaten.

The only light in the truck was from two small vents which were cut in the sides in opposite corners.  There was one thing about it because of our number we did not feel the cold.  We also took off our boots so that we would not kick each other.

Two hours after we entrained we got on the move, and covered a short distance in a few hours and finally pulled into a siding at Sagan at 6 PM where we stayed all night.  Night in that truck was hell nobody being able to get any sleep.  At 6 am next morning we were jerked into motion again and travelled about 30 miles.  We heard that we were going to a big camp south of Berlin a place called Luckenwalde.  We were also told that we may arrive that evening.  But it was not to be we were again pushed into a siding for the night.  No sleep again.  This was at a place called Kottbus.  I had finished my rations the night before and was feeling very hungry.  We did not move from this siding until 11 am the following morning, and did not travel far before we stopped again for another few hours.  We had not travelled more than 34 or 35 miles in more than two days.  We got an issue of about a mouthful of coffee per man from the field kitchen.  One of the boys Ron Henry generously gave us a slice of bread out of some that he had managed to save, he also gave us a piece of biscuit each.  We then settled down as best we could to a third night in our Pullman Car.  That night we got a surprise the train was frequently jerked into motion, and we travelled a bit further in fits and starts, and low and behold before dawn next morning, we had arrived in a siding at Luckenwalde, our destination had been reached by Thursday morning. 

We were all feeling pretty weak from hunger and loss of sleep and lack of exercise.  We finally got out of the train at 11 am and after being counted and recounted began marching the 2½ Kms to Stalag III A.

The camp when we got there, we found to be an international one.  But it looked good to us.  We stood around for a few more hours.  We were supposed to have a bath and be deloused before going into the camp but it takes a long time to get through 1500 men.  So we had a wash and we moved in.  We had had an issue of one cigarette per man whilst waiting and a friend gave us another one each.  They were smokes we really enjoyed, as they were the first except for occasional puffs for about 14 days.

When we finally got in the camp Bob Pearce was there to welcome us.  He had generously cut up his bread ration, and made us a sandwich each with corned beef, it was like manna from heaven.  The corned beef, he had brought from Sagan, where he had spent about 3 days.  He had also brought about 700 fags and he gave us a 20 packet of these each.  I felt like a new man.

We got bed spaces in a large barrack, where we found we had to sleep on a layer of wood wool on the floor, and we made ourselves as comfortable as possible.  Then up came the Army boys with a can of soup and a ration of potatoes, food never tasted better than that did.  It was enjoyed by all.  We also got 2/3 of a cup of soup from our own field kitchens which had been set up in the compound.  I felt better than I had for a few days.

So our trek from Bankau has ended, we think.  But there are rumours going round, that we will be on the move again, before long.  But we hope not.  We lost about 100 or so sick on the road and about 50 or 60 took a chance and hid up at different places.  I don’t suppose we will ever hear what happened to them while we are in Germany anyway.

============================

I am writing this after a couple of weeks at Luckenwalde.  I feel a little better, but not much.  I have got a little food under my belt but I am by no means satisfied, I am still feeling rather hungry.

The first day we were here things looked rather rosy to us, and we were told there was plenty of food and fresh meat, also plenty of Red Cross parcels, but we were soon disillusioned.  The ration of bread is 1/5 of a small loaf per man per day, the meat we do not see, except for a little bit now and then, in our soup, the ration of which is ½ a Klim tin full once per day, and there is talk of that being cut.

On the second day we were here the Army boys put on a show for us.  It was a drama called “Deep Digs the Devil”, and it was very well acted although it was rather heavy.

The third day I started feeling a little queer, I started having pains in the stomach.  The next day I started with diarrhoea and I had to go and see the MO he told me to keep off bread and spuds which I thought was pretty grim, but I tried it and left my bread alone for a day, which was all I could manage, but I left the spuds alone for three days.

On the fifth day here we got a very pleasant surprise we got an issue of 12 cigarettes per man.  In the meantime I had seen my skipper Nobby Clark who had been evacuated from Sagan and was in a compound across the road from us.  He managed to throw me a 20 packet of fags, but said that he had no more.

Since we have been here quite a lot of the boys have gone into dock suffering from dysentery, and one lad has died with pneumonia.  And all that the rest of us do all day is lie on our beds and try to forget that we are hungry.  Which is almost an impossibility.  Boy when I get home will my wife be busy.  She will have a full time job just cooking for me.

——————————————–

23.2.45. We have now been at Stalag III A for a fortnight and feel a little better.  We had a fag issue today, of 22 cigarettes per man, and a ¼ oz of tobacco, from the unclaimed parcels, which are in a store near here.  We also got a small issue of Red Cross food, which had been donated by the Serbs and Norwegians.  I got a ¼ of an American D ration chocolate bar, and a 10^th of a tin of Liver Pate.  A German doctor also came today and examined a few of the boys.  He said that we were definitely underfed, and that he would see what he could do about getting us more food, on his return to Berlin.  Whether we will get it remains to be seen.  (We hope that he will keep his promise.)

24.2.45. Nothing out of the ordinary happened today.  We had some more German promises, which we hope will bear fruit.  We were promised that a telegram would be sent to Lubeck immediately for Red Cross supplies, and also that enquiries would be made about some Red Cross parcels which were at a place a few Kilos from here.  Short ration soup and spuds.

25.2.45. Sunday.  We got a slight increase of bread ration today we get a ¼ of a loaf instead of the usual 1/5.  But it is only for today.  Again short ration soup and spuds.

26.2.45. Monday.  One of my mates moves over to the officers’ compound today.  We got official notification of his commission a week before we left Bankau.  He is F/O Durrant.  I have not had a smoke since lunch time yesterday and there are no signs of getting any.  I don’t know when the next issue will be, if any.  Rations short again S & P.

27.2.45. Tuesday.  It is a good job the weather was mild this morning as the Jerries kept us out on parade for over an hour, and in our condition we soon feel the cold.  I do not feel too good this morning, I feel a bit weak in the legs, and I almost blacked out once.  I start an Automobile Engineering class today, to pass the time away.  The instructor is an Army man. S/SC MacMurray, and he knows his gen.  We have just got on issue of two boxes of matches per man, although we have nothing to smoke.  I managed to sell a spoonful of sugar, so I got a smoke today.  We hope to be on seconds for soup today, which will be a little help.  The seconds did not come off, in fact there were four rations of soup short.  Had three thin slices of bread and marg for tea.  Just had supper two thin slices of bread and marg.  I will now get into bed and try to forget my hunger, by sleeping.

28.2.45. Wednesday.  Still no smokes.  But got a couple of drags of one of the boys who had a bit of tobacco which he rolled into a fag.  Breakfast this morning consisted of two thin slices of bread and marg which finished the ration.  We managed seven thin slices (and they are thin) out of each ration.  But it is only for psychological effect, we always feel hungry after we have eaten.  Two of the lads were shot last night one in the back and the other in the leg.  They were breaking into the Red Cross store.  I don’t know how badly they were injured.  One lad was also caught yesterday, stealing someone else rations.  He is being dealt with by the Jerries.  I hope he gets it in the neck.  Our bread ration today is 1 7/8 loaves between ten men.  The loaves weigh 400 grams.  We also receive 1 spoonful of sugar per man per day.  There are two B- fools in the barracks who sleep quite close to me who talk about nothing else but food from morning till night.  I wish they would wrap up.

1.3.45. Thursday.  The Luftwaffe counted us for the last time this morning.  The German Army have now taken us over, and we were kept out on Parade for an hour and a quarter.  It got quite cold standing outside.  The bread ration has just come up and the ration today is 1/6^th of an 1800 gram loaf per man.  We have also just been told that we get a parcel issue either tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday.  What the parcels are we do not know.  But I think it will be one between four.

2-3-45. Friday.  Nothing of any importance happened today.  Except that we were told that the parcel issue would be made at 13.30 on Saturday.

3.3.45. We had to go on parade twice this morning because some of the lads were late.  We had our normal parade at 07.15 and we paraded again at 08.30 and we had to take our blankets with us, so that they could be checked.  I managed to scrounge a fag this morning on the strength of the parcel issue, so I hope it comes up.  The parcels are in.  We are just waiting for Jerry to punch a couple of holes in the tins before they are issued.  Well, the parcels come up American No. 10 and we had salmon for tea, which was quite a change from bread & marg.

4.3.45. Sunday. Bread & Cheese for breakfast this morning and was it good.  I really enjoyed it and a fag to smoke afterwards made it more enjoyable still.  Dinner was not too bad.  The soup was a bit thin and the spud ration rather small, but the spuds came up before the soup, so I peeled them and put them in it and made it a bit thicker.  We finished off with a biscuit with cheese on it, and a smoke.  Tea was good 4 slices of bread with Prem on them.  Then 2 slices of toast for supper.  We got a quarter of a loaf today.

5-3-45. Monday.  Ran out of fags this morning.  I think I will try to stop smoking, but the trouble is if I don’t smoke I feel more hungry which is not so good, on the poor rations which we get at this camp.  I managed to cut four thin slices of bread for breakfast, and had cheese on two of them.  We also made a cup of American coffee each.  The first good drink for over a week, we also had milk and sugar in it, quite enjoyable.  Dan and I bought a quarter of a loaf between us, last night, and we made a bread pudding with it.  We put some prunes in and some sugar and milk.  Had it for tea, and was wizard.

6.3.45. Tuesday.  There is supposed to be a gash fag issue, but I don’t know when.  I will be glad when it comes.  There was a couple of inches of snow on the ground when we got up this morning, but it has almost gone now.  There is one thing I have forgotten to mention before.  We have an air raid every night, the lights go out regularly at about 7.45.  We are only about 30 miles SW of Berlin.

7.3.45. Wednesday.  We got very good news this morning.  The M of C came in the barracks and told us that there were 25 trucks of parcels in at the station, and at least 23 of them were for us, and the parcel issue tomorrow would be one per man.  25 trucks means about 80000 parcels enough for about 6 weeks at one per man.

8.3.45. Thursday.  Had a pretty good breakfast this morning two thick slices of bread with marg spread thick, one slice with cheese and jam on, and the other with jam spread on thick.  We opened a six oz tin of grape jam and emptied it between four of us.  It was very tasty.  Well we got our parcel per man and were the lads excited, they were just like a lot of kids on Christmas day.  Boy it was good to get a parcel of your own.

9.3.45. Friday.  Two slices of bread for breakfast and are thick with cheese and marg, the other thick with peanut butter and marg and they went down well with a large cup of milk to follow.  It has also been given out that there will possibly be another parcel issue on Monday.  They say the issue may be three parcels per fortnight.

10.3.45. Saturday.  Living quite well now that we have parcels they were a real Godsend and there are more on the way.  In fact we have just heard that they are at the station another 18 trucks full.  The parcels we have now will keep us going for a few weeks at 1 per week, our next issue is Tuesday.

11.3.45. Sunday.  Don and I made ourselves a D.H. cooker this morning and it turned out a success.  We were able to make a good cup of coffee.

25.3.45. Sunday.  Since writing up the last entry I have been very busy what with building a fireplace and doing numerous other odd jobs.  The Jerry rations have been cut during the last week.  The bread ration is now 1/7 or 1/8 of a large loaf or 1/6 of a small one.  We don’t know what it is going to be until we get it.  The potato ration has been cut by half.  The weather is grand.

21^st April 1945

A lot has happened since I last made an entry in this book.  In the last week or two the Jerries have done everything they could to curry favour.  Today that is at the present moment the only Jerries in the camp are the prisoners of the PsO.W. and they are in the bunker, four of them, they did not get out of the camp fast enough.  All we are waiting for are the tanks to roll up but we don’t know whether they will be the Yanks or the Ruskies.  We hope to see the Yanks, but the Russians will do.  There has been spasmodic gunfire all day, it started in the East, the South East and the South West and has now moved round to the North, so that we think we are surrounded.  The R.A.F. and Army Officers are in charge of the camp, along with Officers of other nationalities.  A Norwegian General is senior Officer so he is in charge of all.  His name is General Otto Ruger.  So our liberation day has come at last.  Roll on the Allies.

22^nd April 1945.

Last night orders came in that we were to stay in the barracks, as the German S.S. troops in the woods near the camp said that the crowds outside looked as if we were preparing organised resistance.  The S.S. Major also said that he may decide to search the camp for arms, and for every man he found with them he would shoot a hundred.

The Russians arrived this morning.  Luckenwalde was taken last night without a fight.  Luckenwalde is 2½ kilometres away.  We had a rather noisy night.  One aircraft flew over the camp very low and started straffing the woods.  The Yanks are not very far off.  I hope they get a move on and get us out of this dump, and on the way home.

Russian troops have just come into the camp.  Boy! what a sight.  Tanks and trucks loaded with men who look like fighters.

19.1.45 ARR WINTERFELD                      29 Kms.

LEFT 20.1.45 Arr KARLSRUHE               12   “

LEFT 20.1.45    “  BAUKWITZ                   41 “     21.1.45

LEFT 22.1.45.  ”  WANSEN                       28 “

LEFT 24.1.45   ”  HEIDERSDORF           30 ”

LEFT 27.1.45   ”  PFAFFENDORF           24 ”

    ”     28.1.45  ”   STANDORF                  24 ”

    ”     29.1.45  ”   PETERWITZ                 22 ”

    ”     1.2.45   ”    PRAUSNITZ                 12 ”     2.2.45.

    ”     5.2.45   ”    GOLDBURG                 7 ”

LEFT GOLDBURG BY TRAIN 5.2.45 ARR LUCKENWALDE 8.2.45.

Roses Red

Violets Blue

Cabbages Green

& so are you.

Come up & see me some time at 1 Grasmere Ave, Crofton Rd., Orpington, Kent.

George King (Slim)

Good luck Ernie, and may we meet again but in more pleasant surroundings & should you ever get the chance be sure & come & stay a few days with me at  Robinson Av, Coorparoo SEZ, Brisbane, Australia M.J. O’Leary (Straus) 3.121.44

REMEMBER ME

Remember me although I’m far away

Remember that I love you more each day

Remember soon we’ll be together again

In sunshine or in rain

A million years it seems we’ve been apart

But your lovely smile still lingers here

In my heart.

So dry your tears and quiet your fears

Till we meet that happy day

Remember though I’m far away.

Written and composed by Billy Hall and Ron Walker at Stalagluft 7.

Ring Mitcham 2729 and there will be a welcome for a friend of mine.  Fred Curtis, 37 Victoria Rd. Mitcham Surrey.

Do it today, tomorrow is the day when idle people work and fools reform.  John Ackroyd, 32, Cravendale Rd., Ravensthorpe. Dewsbury  Yorkshire.  Welcome any time.

The happiest moments of my life

Were spent in the arms of another man’s wife (My mother)

“Long may yere lum reek”

John Campbell, Church Gate, Torphichen, Bathgate Scotland.

Here’s to the Airman who takes,

Partakes, and does not tell,

Here’s to the W.A.A.F.  who gives

Forgives and does not s….

W.S. Rowan (Scotty) 10, Stobhill Road, Gawkshill, Merton Grange, Midlothian Scotland.

There’s aye a welcome for an auld freen!

MR ROBERT CLARK                     JOHN CAMPBELL

21 SALISBURY SQ                         CHURCHGATE

WEST AUCKLAND                         TORPHICHEN

CO DURHAM                                   NR BATHGATE

                                                            WEST LITHIAN

                                                            SCOTLAND

THOMAS MURRAY                        HARRY R. GIBSON

57 WEST MAIN ST.                         14, SHRUBBS AVE

UPHALL                                            BUCKLAND

WEST LOTHIAN                              LYMINGTON

SCOTLAND                                      HANTS.

JOHN E. SHORE                             EDWARD HILL

“CLEVEDON”                                   33 BARWICK ST

FOXHILLS                                         QUEENS RD

TOTTON                                            MILES PLATTING

HANTS                                              M/C 9

BEN TUREMAN                               V. KEMPKA JOHNSTON

MRS JEAN ALLEN                          C/O M.M. SHORT

c/o Mr H. BURGESS                       41, OAKLEY AVE

30, CROOKINGS LANE                 EALING

PENWORTHAM                               LONDON W.5.

PRESTON                                        

BERT SCULLY                                MRS MACHIN

2 CHELWOOD AVE                        10, MOUNTFIELD

BROADGREEN                               PRESTWICH

LIVERPOOL 16                                MANCHESTER.

20.6.44.

There follow drawings and RAF brevets with names below.  Pilot “NOBBY” F/O, Navigator  “KIT” F/O, Bomb aimer ERIC, Signaller RON

G.J YOUNG                                      J. WOODWARD

“PAN-DAN”                                       56, RIDPOOL RD

39 PARKLAND RD                          LEA HILL

WOODFORD GREEN                    YARDLEY

ESSEX                                              BIRMINGHAM

R.W. BLAND                                    J. ACKROYD

6 NORTHCOTE RD                        32 CRAVENDALE ROAD

WALTHAMSTOW                            RAVENSTHORPE

E. 17                                                   DEWSBURY

                                                            YORKSHIRE.

FRANK L. PREECE

245, QUEENS DRIVE

WALTON

LIVERPOOL 4

A map of the 21 days THE ROAD BACK.  the retreat from “Joe”

NAME	ADDRESS		NAME	ADDRESS
N. WILMOT “BILL”	69, LEE ROAD HARPURHEY MANCHESTER 9		R. CLARK “NOBBY”	21, SALISBURY SQ, WEST AUCKLAND C. DURHAM
T.Y. MURRAY “TAM”	57 WEST MAIN ST UPHALL WEST LOTHIAN SCOTLAND		JOHN. E SHORE “JUNIOR”	“CLEVEDON” FOXHILLS TOTTON HANTS
JOHN CAMPBELL “JOCK”	CHURCHGATE TORPHICHEN NR BATHGATE WEST LOTHIAN SCOTLAND		V. KEMPKA JOHNSTON “PADJA”	C/O MISS M. SHORT 41 OAKLEY AVE EALING W.5
H.R. GIBSON “BIM BAM”	14, SHRUBBS AVE BUCKLAND LYMINGTON HANTS		F. CURTIS	37, VICTORIA RD MITCHAM SURREY MITCHAM 2729
BERT SCULLY	2 CHELWOOD AVE BROADGREEN LIVERPOOL 16		RAY LORD	14 KENSINGTON ST LEICESTER
K.B. SHILLITO	31 SCHOOL RD ORFORD WARRINGTON		H.P. CHRISTENSEN “CHRIS”	23 KINSEY ST SILVERDALE STOKE-ON-TRENT STAFFS
T.V. LEWIS “TAFFY”	LLYSGWYLIM LLANDEBIS CARMARTHENSHIRE S. WALES		JOHN E. VIDLER “TOMMY”	17 TRANBY AVE HESSLE NR HULL YORKS TEL HESSLE 49429
D.L. DAY “FRENCHIE”	WOODLANDS HSE MARKET ST CHELTENHAM		T.H. CLORAN	“NEVRIN” STAPLE HALL RD BLETCHLEY BUCKS
F. ILLINGWORTH	77 HARMAN RD ENFIELD MIDDX		BILL CLIFF	39, CONRAN ST HARPURHEY MANCHESTER
J. WOODWARD	56 RIDPOOL RD LEA HALL YARDLEY BIRMINGHAM		A.C. FROST	119 COLDHARBOUR LANE HAYES MIDDX
BILL HAYMAN	NEW ZEALAND		R.W. McGRAW “SPIKE”	894 GROVE ST GLENCOE ILLINOIS U.S.A.
J.M.V. THOMSON	LANSDOWN CRES GLASGOW W		R.H. PARRY-JONES	C/O THE CITY BATHS CHESTER CHESHIRE or 12, RUE DESAIX MUSTAPHA PACHA ALEXANDRIA EGYPT
J. MORGAN “TAFFY”	“RHEOLAN ARMS” ABERCRAVE SWANSEA VALLEY S. WALES		R.W. BLAND	6 NORTHCOTE RD WALTHAMSTOW E. 17
R.R. HEATH	65, SEYMOUR RD HORNSEY LONDON N. 8.		L.J. HALL	“MILWARDS” 34, UNION ST ALDERSHOT HANTS
H.C. QUINN	66 FLORENCE ST OTTOWA CANADA		R.H. PEARCE	84, ASPINAL RD LONDON S.E. 4
G. JONAS	52, CRAVEN WALK LONDON N. 16		B.J. ALLEN	25, BLAKENEY RD SHEFFIELD 10 YORKS
S DURRANT “DICKY”	41 PRESTON RD BRIGHTON 7 SURREY		W.L. COUSINS “YORKY”	4, CARRINGTON AVE POPPLETON RD YORK
R.B. McLEAN “MAC”	20, AUSTRALIA AVE GOULBURN N.S.W. AUSTRALIA		BEN TUREMAN	MRS JEAN ALLEN C/O MR. H. BURGESS 30 CROOKLANDS LANE, PENWORTH PRESTON, LANCS
K. BYRNE “PADDY”	67, IVEAGH GARDENS CRUMLIN, DUBLIN IRELAND		EDWARD HILL	33 BARWICK ST. QUEENS ROAD MILES PLATTING MANCHESTER 9
RON HENRY	2121 ROBINSON ST REGINA SASKATEWAN CANADA		ALBERT AUSTIN “TINY” (Cpl)	27 RANDOLF ST CAMDEN TOWN LONDON N.W. 1
DON GRAY	96, BETCHWORTH RD SEVEN KINGS ESSEX		DAVE BANNING	66 5TH AVENUE TIMMINS ONTARIO CANADA
NORM GRIFFITHS	47, GRAND AVE LONDON N. 10		G.J. KING “SLIM”	1 GRASMERE AVE CROFTON RD ORPINGTON KENT
FRANK TAIT	2, CROWLE ST HYDE PARK TOWNSVILLE QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA		J. WILLIAMS	15, TRAWDEN AVE OFF BENNETS LANE BOLTON
ALLAN JOHNSTONE “JOHNNY”	462, BROCK ST. MARTON BLACKPOOL		J. WARREN	42, STANLEY RD MANOR PARK LONDON E. 12
TED HOLT	49, SOUTHBOURNE RD MARTON BLACKPOOL		MRS. THOMPSON	47 LONGTON RD NR. BLACKLEY MANCHESTER 9
A BELVERSTONE “ALGY”	40 SUNNYSIDE RD LEYTON E 10 LONDON		KEMKKA	23 LYME GROVE DROYLSDEN M/C  CEMETRY RD
R. YEARSLEY		21, ST GEORGES AVE KILN LANE ST HELENS
K. PENDRAY		31, BATH RD THATCHAM BUCKS
R. HARTGROVES		9 PRIMROSE AVE BARLEY LANE GOODMAYES ESSEX

May 2^nd 1945.

We have now been liberated over a week, and we are still stagnating in Stalag III A and it looks as if we will be here for a long time yet.  The Russians and the Yanks have linked up in a number of places, quite close to us but no effort is being made to get us home.  Yet according to the B.B.C. all P.O.W. are supposed to have priority.  I suppose that we will be here long after the war is over, and sometime in the dim distant future someone will all of a sudden remember the men at Stalag III A.

The Russians are looking after us very well.  They are commandeering all the food they can find, and bringing it into the camp.  But I and the rest of the chaps would prefer to be on the way home.  A lot of fellows have left to try to make their own way to the American lines.

REPORT OF A FORCED MARCH MADE BY OCCUPANTS OF STALAG LUFT 7 GERMANY.

========================

On January 17^th, 1945, at approximately 11 am we received notice of one hour in which to pack our kit and be ready to leave the camp by marching.  At the same time we were informed by Ober Feldwebel Frank that for every one man who fell out of the column on the march, five men would be shot.  This order was never given in writing.

The start was postponed until 3.30 am on Jan 19^th.  During the interval, 68 sick men were evacuated to the civilian Slag at Kreuzberg and, we believe, were later taken to Stalag 344 at Lamsdorf.

Each man was issued with two and a half days marching rations before leaving.  When the march began on Jan 19^th no transport was provided for any sick who might have fallen out on the march and the only medical equipment carried was that carried by the M.O. and three sanitators on their backs.

DETAILS OF MARCH.

Jan 19^th.  Left Bankau and marched to Winterfeldt, a distance of 28 Kms.  This was done under extremely trying weather conditions and severe cold.  The only accommodation at Winterfeldt was small barns.

Jan 20^th.  Marched from Winterfeldt to Karlsruhe arriving at 10 am.  We set off at 5 am and marched a distance of 12 Kms.  At Karlsruhe we were housed in an abandoned brick factory.  Here for the first time we were provided with 2 field kitchens with which to cook for 1,550 men.  Each field kitchen was actually capable of cooking sufficient food for 200 men.  The M.O. was also provided with a horse and cart for transport of the sick.  The cart was big enough to hold 6 sitting cases.  Coffee was provided and after a rest period of 11 hours we were again ordered to move.  The Camp Leader and the M.O. protested against further marching until the men were adequately rested and fed.  We were told by the German Abwehr Officer that it was an order and must be complied with.  The same night we left Karlsruhe and marched to Schonfeld, arriving at 9 am on Jan 21^st, covering a distance of 42 Kms.  The conditions during the night were extreme, the temperature being 13 degrees Centigrade.  The M.O. wagon was filled after the first five kms and from then onwards, men were being picked up on the road sides in a collapsed and frozen state and it was only by sheer will power that they were able to finish the march.  After crossing the River Oder, a distance of 34 kms from Karlsruhe we were told that we would be accommodated and that no move would be made for 2 days.

Jan 21^st.  At Schonfeld we were accommodated in the cow sheds and barns of a farm, a room was provided at Lassen for the sick.  Rations issued were about 100 gms of biscuits per man and half a cup of coffee.

Jan 22nd.  At 3 am orders were given by the Germans to prepare to march off at once.  It was dark and there was some delay in getting the men out from their sleeping quarters because they could not find their baggage.  The guards were thereupon marched into the quarters and discharged their firearms.  The column was marching again by 5 am.  23 men, it was ascertained at this stage, were lost and their whereabouts are unknown.  They may have been left behind asleep or they may have escaped.  Also 31 men were evacuated (we believe) to Lansdorf but nothing further has been heard of them.  We marched to Jenkwitz, a distance of 24 Kms and we were housed at a farm in barns.  Here we were issued with a total of 114 kgms of fat, 46 tins of meat, barley, peas.  Soup was issued, the ration being about a quarter of a litre per man.  No bread was issued.

Jan 23^rd.  Left Jenkwitz at 8 am and marched 20 Kms to Wansen.

Jan 24^th.  We were rested a day at Wansen sleeping in barns.  The revier was in a cow shed.  31 sick were evacuated to Sagan.  400 loaves of bread were issued.

Jan 25^th.  Left Wansen at 4 am for Heidersdorf and covered 30 Kms.

Jan 26^th.  Spent the day at Heidersdorf.  Issued with 600 loaves of bread, to last for 2 days.

Jan 27^th.  Left Heidersdorf and marched 19 kms to Pfaffendorf, where we arrived at night.

Jan 28^th.  Left Pfaffendorf for Standorpat 5 am and marched a distance of 21 Kms.  Issued with 24 cartons of knackebrot, 150 Kgms oats, 45 kgms margarine and 50 kgms of sugar.  22 sick were evacuated at Schweidnity and eventually arrived at Sagan.

Jan 29^th.  Left Standorf at 6 pm and marched to Peterwitz a distance of 22 Kms, where we arrived at 4 am the following day.  This march was carried out in darkness under extreme conditions, with a blizzard blowing the whole time.  The men arrived at Peterwitz in an extremely exhausted condition.  Before leaving Standorf we were promised that we would have to march no further as transport would be supplied from Peterwitz.  104 Kgms of meat were issued, 1 sack of salt, 25 kgs of coffee, and 100 kgs of Barley.

Jan 30^th.  At Peterwitz, 30 men from Stalag 344, who had been left without guards joined our column.  296 loaves of bread were issued, 50 kgs oats and 35.5 kgs of margarine.

Jan 31^st.  We spent this day at Peterwitz.  We were told we would have to march to Goldberg before we got transport.  300 kgs of oats were issued, 50 kgs of coffee and 40 kgs of margarine.

Feb 1^st.  Marched from Peterwitz to Planzwitz, a distance of 12 Kms.  We remained at Planzwitz from Feb 1^st – 5^th.  On Feb 1^st we were issued with 680 loaves of bread, and 37.5 kgs of margarine.  On Feb 3^rd we were issued with 112.5 Kgs of margarine, 250 loaves, 100 kgs sugar, 200 kgs of flour and 150 kgs of barley.  On Feb 4^th the issue was 250 loaves.

At night on Feb 4^th, the Commandant (Oberst Leutenant Behr) visited the farm and read out an order from O.K.W. to the effect that 5 men were to be released and would be liberated at the first opportunity.  The of this we were unable to understand.

Feb 5^th.  Before leaving, we were issued with 500 loaves of bread, 95 kgs of margarine and 530 tins of meat.  We were marched from Planzwitz to Goldberg, a distance of 8 Kms.  On arrival at Goldberg, we were put into cattle trucks, an average of 55 men to each truck.  By this time there were numerous cases of dysentery and facilities for men to attend to personal hygiene were inadequate.  The majority had no water on the train journey for 2 days.  When men were allowed out of the trucks to relieve themselves, numerous of the guards ordered them back inside again and we had to be continually getting permission for the men to be allowed out.  We were on the train from the morning of Feb 5^th until the morning of Feb 8^th.  Before commencing this journey, we were issued with sufficient rations for 2 days.

The total distance marched was 240 Kms.

SUMMARY

As a result of the march and the deplorable conditions, the morale of the men is extremely low.  They are suffering from an extreme degree of malnutrition and at present, an outbreak of dysentery.  There are numerous cases of frostbite and other minor ailments.  They are quite unfit for any further moving.  Food and better conditions are urgently required.  We left Bankau with no Red X supplies and throughout the march, all rations were short issued.  The most outstanding being bread, which amounts to 2,924 loaves.

D.G. Hawatson, Capt R.A.M.C.

Camp Medical Officer

Peter A. Thompson, P.O. R.A.F.

Camp Leader.

Feb 15^th 1945.

—————————

CONTENTS OF RED X PARCELS

ENGLISH                                                      CANADIAN

1 TIN SALMON OR PILCHARDS                                     1 LB TIN BUTTER

1 TIN MEAT ROLL OR SAUSAGES                                ¼ LB CHEESE

1   “    CORNED BEEF                                                       ½ LB COFFEE 2 OZ TEA

1   ”    MEAT & VEG                                                                        SUGAR

1   ”    MIXED VEG OR PEAS                                           1 LB BOX RAISONS

1   ”    MARG OR BUTTER                                                 1 TIN SALMON

1   ”    OATS                                                                          1 TIN CORNER BEEF

1   ”    NESTLES MILKK                                                     1 TIN SPAM

1   ”    EGG POWDER                                                        1 TIN KLIM (DRIED MILK)

1   ”    CHEESE                                                                    1 TIN BISCUITS

1   ”    JAM OF MARMALADE OR SYRUP                     1 TIN JAM OR MARMALADE

1 PKT SUGAR                                                                     ½ LB CHOCOLATE

1 TIN OF PKT FRUIT PUDDING OR DRIED FRUIT     1 TIN SALT & PEPPER (MIXED)

1 PKT PANCAKE MIXTURE                                             SOAP.

1 TIN BISCUITS

¼ LB CHOCOLATE

1 TIN MUSTARD OR PEPPER.  SALT

1 TIN ¼ LB COCOA 2 OZ TEA

T TABLET SOAP (TOILET)

AMERICAN NO 10.

1 TIN SPAM

1   «   CORNED BEEF OR M&V

1   «   KLIM

1 LB TIN MARGARINE

1 TIN LIVER PATE 6 OZ PEANUT BUTTER

1 TIN JAM OR ORANGE JUICE 6 OZ

1 TIN SALMON 7¾ OZ OR 2 TINS SARDINES

1 TIN COFFEE 2 OZ

1 PKT RAISONS OR PRUNES 1 LB

1 PKT CHEESE ½ LB

1 PKT SUGAR. I PKT ASCORBIC ACID TABLETS.

1 PKT BISCUITS OR CEREAL

2 BARS CHOCOLATE (D RATION)

100 CIGARETTES

2 TABLETS SOAP

NO 9 PARCELS HAVE 1 BAR CHOCOLATE AND 40 CIGARETTES LESS.

REMEMBER ME

Remember me although I’m far away

Remember that I love you more each day

Remember soon we’ll be together again

In sunshine or in rain

A million years it seems we’ve been apart

But your lovely smile still lingers here

In my heart.

So dry your tears and quiet your fears

Till we meet that happy day

Remember though I’m far away.

Written and composed by Billy Hall and Ron Walker at Stalagluft 7.

Some of the meals I will have when I get home.

Breakfast	Big bowl of porridge.  Plenty of milk and sugar.  Eggs, bacon, flapjacks with syrup, toast and butter, marmalade or dripping.  Coffee with milk and sugar.	Breakfast	Porridge with milk & sugar. Eggs & ham.  Bread & butter.  Buttered marmalade or dripping toast. Coffee with milk & sugar.
Dinner	Soup, roast beef, roast and boiled potatoes, peas or cabbage or sprouts.  H.P. sauce, thick brown gravy.  Sweet, rice or fruit pudding. Biscuit and cheese.  Coffee or tea.	Dinner	Soup.  Fish.  Steak pie & chips or steak or chops & chips & peas with gravy. Apple pudding & white sauce. Fruit cake.  Biscuits & cheese Tea or coffee.
Tea	Cold mutton or beef.  Salad, plenty of Hovis bread and butter. Fruit and cream.  Fruit cake.  Fruit tart.  Tea.	Tea	Sausage & mash or cottage pie & gravy or a large meat & potato pie green salad. Bread & butter (Hovis) apricots & cream. Fruit cake.  Apple pie.  Tea.
Supper	Fish and chips.  Plenty of bread and butter.  Cocoa, Ovaltine or Horlicks.  Cheese and raw onion.	Supper	Potato pie.  Bread & butter, cheese & biscuits.  Cake or apple pie. Ovaltine, Horlicks or cocoa.
10 A.M.	Biscuits or cake.  Tea or coffee	10 A.M.	Biscuits & cheese.  Fruit or cream cake.  Tea.
3 P.M.	Bread, butter, jam.  Fruit cake or fancy cakes or malt bread with fruit in.  Cake.  Coffee.	3 P.M.	Fruit malt bread or Hovis.  Cakes or apple pie. Coffee made with milk.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

27^th JULY, 1915.

557– District Court-Martial –

            The detail of Officers as mentioned in Brigade Order No. 550 of 25^th July, 1915, will re-assemble at the Court- Martial Room, The Havens, North Demesne, Alnwick, on Thursday, 29^th July, 1915, at 10 a.m., for the purpose of trying by District Court-Martial the accused persons named in the margin:-

The accused will be warned, and all witnesses duly required to attend.

The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank” Alnwick.

The Officers Commanding 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd, and 23^rd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Tyneside Scottish.) will each detail three officers to attend for instructional purposes.

In the margin.  No. 1576 Pte. George Appleton, 21^st (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (2^nd Tyneside Scottish) and 1585 Pte. Thomas Ramsey Tait, 22^nd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish. 

558 – Electric Plant – Personnel –

            With reference to Brigade Order No. 536, dated 22^nd July, 1915, the “Home Service” men therein referred to will not “rejoin” the Depot Company of their former Battalion, but will be attached only as laid down in Brigade Order No. 541, dated 23^rd July, 1915.

559 Army Form B 230 – Amended Rendering of –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Divisional Circular dated 25^th July, 1915, concerning Army Form B 230.

Officers Commanding Units will forward to Brigade Headquarters any recommendations that they may wish to put forward regarding the employment of Home Service men in lieu of Foreign Service men now on regimental employ.

560 – Absence Without Leave –

TO BE READ TO ALL UNITS ON PARADE.

            The Brigade Commander regrets to notice that a certain small number of men are still shewn in each Battalion as “absent without leave.”

            Officers Commanding Units will personally explain to their Battalion on parade that in view of the urgent need for pressing on the training of the Brigade as quickly as possible in order to allow of its proceeding to the Front at an early date in a thoroughly efficient condition, every day’s training is of great value and any loss of training time due to absence without leave is a very serious matter.  A man who at this time absents himself from his Battalion is not only wasting the opportunities now afforded to him for learning the work which he will have to carry out shortly in the face of the enemy, but is damaging the reputation and efficiency of his Battalion and casting a slur on the Brigade as a whole, and will be dealt with accordingly.

The Brigade Commander trusts that it will not be necessary to again refer to this question.

561– Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

RATIONS – ISSUE OF –

            Owing to the danger of Meat going bad during hot weather, double issues on Saturday for consumption on Sundays and Mondays must cease, and issues must be made either on Sundays, or early on Monday morning, as may be found most convenient.

            Any cases in which, owing to lack of Railway facilities, compliance with this order is impossible, should be referred by the Supply Officers concerned to Command Headquarters for instructions.

(S.T.)  Northern Command Order No.1374.

562 – Command Order – Attention called to –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Northern Command Order No. 1375 of 26^th July, 1915.

563 – Divisional Orders – Attention Called to –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is called to Divisional Orders 26 and 27 of 26^th July, 1915.

564 – Discharges – Return of –

            With reference to Divisional Order No. 28 of 26^th July, 1915, the return therein referred to will be forwarded to Brigade Headquarters on the 28^th instant.

565 – Deserters – Return of –

            With reference to Divisional Order No. 29 of 26^th July, 1915, returns for the preceding week are to be forwarded to Brigade Headquarters on Wednesdays.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

REPORT OF A FORCED MARCH MADE BY OCCUPANTS

OF STALAG LUFT 7. GERMANY.

On January 17^th 1945 at approximately 11 a.m. we received notice of one hour in which to pack our kit and be ready to leave the camp by marching.  At the same time we were informed by Ober Feldwebel Frank that for every one man who fell out of the column on the march, five men would be shot.  This order was never given in writing.

The start was postponed until 3.30 a.m. on Jan 19^th.  During the interval 68 sick men were evacuated to the civilian Slag at Kreigberg, and, we believe were later taken to Stalag 344 at Lansdorf.

Each man was provided with two and a half days marching rations, before leaving.  When the march began on Jan 19^th no transport was provided for any sick who might have fallen out on the march, and the only medical equipment carried, was that carried by the M.O. and three sanitators on their backs.

DETAILS OF MARCH.

Jan 19^th.  Left Bankau and marched to Winterfeld, a distance of 28 Km’s.  This was done under extremely trying weather conditions and severe cold.  The only accommodation at Winterfeld was small barns.

Jan 20^th.  Marched from Winterfeld to Karlsruhe arriving at 10 a.m.  We set off at 5 a.m. and marched a distance of 12 Kms.  At Karlsruhe, we were housed in an abandoned brick factory.  Here for the first time we were provided with 2 field kitchens with which to cook for 1,550 men.  Each kitchen was actually capable of cooking food for 200 men.  The M.O. was also provided with a horse and cart for transport of the sick.  The cart was big enough to hold 6 sitting cases.  Half a cup of coffee (ersatz) per man was provided and after a rest period of 11 hours we were again ordered to move.  The Camp Leader and the M.O. protested against further marching until the men were adequately rested and fed.  We were told by the German Abwehr Officer that it was an order, and must be complied with.  The same night we left Karlsruhe and marched to Schonfeld, arriving at 9 a.m. on Jan 21^st, covering a distance of 42 Kms.  The conditions during the night were extreme, the temperature being -13 degrees centigrade.  The M.O.’s wagon was filled after the first 5 Kms, and from then onwards men were being picked up on the road sides in a collapsed and frozen state, and it was only by sheer will power that they were able to finish the march.  After crossing the River Oder, a distance of 34 Kms, from Karlsruhe.  We were told that we would be accommodated, and that no move would be made for 2 days.

Jan 21^st.  At Schonfeld we were accommodated in the cow sheds and barns of a farm.  A room was provided at Lassen for the sick.  Rations issued were about 100 grams of biscuits per man, and half a cup of coffee.

Jan 22^nd.  At 3 a.m. orders were given by the Germans to prepare to march off at once.  It was dark and there was some delay in getting the men out from their sleeping quarters, because they could not find their baggage.  The guards were thereupon marched into the quarters and discharged their firearms.  The column was marching again by 5 a.m.  23 men, it was ascertained at this stage, were lost, and their whereabouts are unknown.  They may have been left behind asleep, or they may have escaped.  Also 31 men were evacuated (we believe) to Lamsdorf, but nothing further has been heard of them.  We marched to Jenkwitz, a distance of 24 Kms and were housed at a farm in barns.  Here we were issued with a total of 114 kms of fat, 46 tins of meat barley, and peas.  Soup was issued, the ration being about a quarter of a litre per man.  No bread was issued.

Jan 23^rd.  Left Jenkwitz at 8 a.m. and marched to Wassen.  20 kms.

Jan 24^th.  We were rested a day at Wassen, sleeping in barns.  The revier was in a cowshed.  31 sick were evacuated to Sagan.  400 loaves of bread issued.

Jan 25^th.  Left Wassen at 4 a.m. for Heidersdorf and covered 30 Kms.

Jan 26^th.  Spent the day at Heidersdorf.  Issued with 600 loaves of bread, to last for two days.

Jan 27th.  Left Heidersdorf and marched 19 kms to Pfaffendorf, where we arrived at night.

Jan 28^th.  Left Pfaffendorf for Standorf at 5 a.m. and marched a distance of 21 Kms.  Issued with 24 cartons knackebrot, 150 kgms oats, 45 kgms margarine and 50 kgms of sugar.  22 sick were evacuated at Schweidnitz, and eventually reached Sagan.

Jan 29^th.  Left Standorf at 6 p.m. and marched to Peterwitz a distance of 22 kms, where we arrived at 4 a.m. the following day.  This march was carried out in darkness under extreme conditions.  With a blizzard blowing the whole time.  The men arrived at Peterwitz in an utterly exhausted condition.  Before leaving Standorf we were promised that we would have to march no further as transport would be supplied at Peterwitz. 104 kgms of meat were issued, 1 sack of salt, 25 kgms of coffee, and 100 kgms barley.

Jan 30^th.  At Peterwitz, 30 men from Stalag 344, who had been left without guards joined our column.  296 loaves of bread were issued, 50 kgms oats and 35.5 kgms of margarine.

Jan 31^st.  We spent this day at Peterwitz.  We were told we would have to march to Goldberg before we got transport.  300 kgms of oats were issued, 50 kgms coffee and 40 Kgms of margarine.

Feb 1^st.  Marched from Peterwitz to Pransvitz, a distance of 12 Kms.  We remained at Pransvitz form Feb 1^st to the 5^th.  On Feb 1^st we were issued with 680 loaves of bread and 37.5 Kgms of margarine.  On Feb 3^rd we were issued with 112.5 kgms of margarine, 250 loaves, 100 kgms sugar, 200 Kgms of flour and 150 kgms barley.  On Feb 4^th the issue was 250 loaves.

At night on Feb 4^th the German Commandant (Oberst Leutenant Behr) visited the farm and read out an order from O.K.W. to the effect that 5 men were to be released, and would be liberated at the first opportunity.  The reason for this we could not understand.

Feb 5^th.  Before leaving we were issued with 500 loaves of bread, 95 kgms of margarine and 530 tins of meat.  We were marched from Pransvitz to Goldberg a distance of 8 kms.  On arrival at Goldberg we were put into cattle trucks 55 men to a truck.  By this time there were numerous cases of dysentery and facilities for men to attend to personal hygiene were inadequate.  The majority had no water on the train for two days.  When men were allowed out of the trucks to relieve themselves, the guards ordered them back inside again, and we had to be continually getting permission for them to be allowed out.  We were on the train from the morning of the 5^th Feb to the morning of the 8^th Feb.  Before commencing this journey we were issued with 1/3 of a loaf to last for 2 days.

The total distance marched was 240 kms.

SUMMARY

As a result of the march and the deplorable conditions, the morale of the men is extremely low.  They are suffering from an extreme degree of malnutrition, and, at present, an outbreak of dysentery.  There are numerous cases of frostbite, and other minor ailments.  They are quite unfit for any further moving.  Food and better conditions are urgently required.  We left Bankau with no Red X supplies, and throughout the march all rations were short issued.  The most outstanding being bread.  Which amounts to 2,924 loaves.

There is a map of the route taken on the last page.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

25^th JULY, 1915.

549 – District Court-Martial –

            The District Court-Martial directed to assemble in Brigade Order No. 526 of 19^th July, 1915, of which Major P.B. Norris, 22^nd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (3^rd Tyneside Scottish.) was President, is hereby dissolved.

550 – District Dourt-Martial –

            The detail of Officers as mentioned below will assemble at the Court-Martial Room, the Haven, North Demesne, Alnwick, on the 27^th July, 1915, at 10 a.m., for the purpose of trying by a District Court-Martial the accused persons named in the margin:-

PRESIDENT

Major E.K. Purnell, 23^rd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish).

MEMBERS

A Captain, 22^nd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 3^rd Tyneside Scottish).

A Captain, 23^rd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (4^th Tyneside Scottish.)

The accused will be warned, and all witnesses duly required to attend.

The proceedings will be forwarded to the G.O.C., 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade, “Alnbank,” Alnwick.

The Officers Commanding 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd, and 23^rd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Tyneside Scottish.) will each detail three officers to attend for instructional purposes.

In the margin.  No. 21/898 Pte. G.J. Wilkinson, 21^st (S.) Batt, Northumberland Fusiliers (2^nd Tyneside Scottish); No. 21/1153 Private. Jos. Wilkinson 21^st (S) Batt, Northumberland Fusiliers (2^nd Tyneside Scottish); No. 23/1522 Pte. William Nicholson 23^rd S) Batn, Northd. Fus. (4^th Tyneside Scottish); No. 20975, Pte. J.T. Rodden, 12^th (S.) Battalion, Yorkshire Regt. (Tees-side Pioneers).

551 – Musketry –

            The move of the Brigade to Ripon is cancelled.  Under present arrangements the Brigade will on 10^th August commence firing Part 1 and 2 Musketry Course as follows:-

                                                At Hornsea                1,500 men at a time.

At Whitburn                 500 men at a time.

Detailed orders in this connection will be issued later.

552– Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

“LONDON GAZETTE” –

The following extracts from the Second Supplement to the  “London Gazette” of Tuesday, the 20^th July, 1915, are published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers –

20^th Battalion (1^st Tyneside Scottish). – Temporary Lieutenant Albert E. Kerr to be temporary Captain, and to be Adjutant, vice temporary Captain J.S. Miller.  Dated 30^th June, 1915.

553 – Command Orders – Attention called to –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is directed to Northern Command Orders 1351 and 1354 of 24^th July, 1915.

554 – Candidates for Commissions – Examination of –

            The attention of Medical Officers is directed to Northern Command Order 1356 of 24^th July, 1915.

555 – Extracts from Divisional Orders –

RETURN –

            All Units in the Division will send to Divisional Headquarters not later than 1^st August, 1915, a nominal roll of all the Jewish soldiers under their command.

Divisional Order No. 23.  24/7/1915

556 – Soldiers – Jewish Persuasion – Nominal Roll –

            With reference to Divisional Order No. 23 of 24^th July, 1915, Officers Commanding Units will forward nominal rolls to these Headquarters, without delay.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

24^th JULY, 1915.

547– Brigade Dental Clinic –

            It is notified for information that the Dental Clinic, Newcastle-on-Tyne, will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, the 2^nd and 3^rd August.  No men will therefore be sent for treatments on those dates.

548– Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

RESULTS OF THE 14^th RIFLE COURSE –

            The undermentioned Non-commissioned Officers qualified at the 14^th Rifle Course, Strensall, 17^th June to 3^rd July, 1915:-

No. 595, Sergt. Taylor, W.H., 21st (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.

No. 1058, Sergt. Oliver, J., 22^nd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.

No. 1066, Sergt. Patterson-Muir, J., 22^nd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland

Fusiliers.

No. 1318, Sergt. Teasdale, W.R., 23^rd (S.) Battalion, Northumberland Fusilier.

Northern Command Order No.1338.

“LONDON GAZETTE” –

The following extracts from the “London Gazette” of Tuesday, 20^th July, 1915, is published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers –

22^nd Battalion (3^rd Tyneside Scottish). – Joseph Charles Piegrome to be temporary Second Lieutenant.  Dated 5^th June, 1915.

The following extracts from a Supplement to the “London Gazette” of Tuesday, 20^th July, 1915, are published for information:-

The Northumberland Fusiliers –

20^th Battalion (1^st Tyneside Scottish). – Stuart Osborne Prest to be temporary Second Lieutenant.  Dated 12^th July, 1915.

21^st Battalion (2^nd Tyneside Scottish). – The undermentioned to be temporary Second Lieutenants, dated 3^rd July, 1915:-.

                        Edmund Farmaner Bowkett,

Ernest Day Kidd.

Northern Command Order No.1340.

HORSE SHOES – SUPPLY OF –

            A stock of Machine-made Shoes has now been received by Army Ordnance Department, and Units concerned should submit demands for their requirements to the C.O.O.’s York, Ripon, or Richmond.

Local shoeing is not to be resorted to except in cases where Army Ordnance Department is not in a position to supply the size of shoes required.

C.R.N.C. No. 73073 (O.S.).  Northern Command Order 1343.

DISCHARGES –

It should be distinctly understood that all applications for Discharges must be submitted to Command Headquarters for decision.

Authority, War Office Telegram: A.G. 14, dated 14^th July, 1915.

C.R.N.C. No. 66037 (A.1.).  Northern Command Order No.1345.

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.

BRIGADE ORDERS.

BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL TREVOR TERNAN, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

COMMANDING 102^nd (TYNESIDE SCOTTISH) BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS, ALNWICK,

23^rd JULY, 1915.

540 – Correspondence –

            All original communications emanating from Officers Commanding Units to Brigade Headquarters, will in future, be forwarded in duplicate.

541 – Home Service Companies –

            With reference to Brigade Order No 393, of 7^th June 1915, the men forming the “Home Service” Battalion now quartered in Newcastle, will remain there until further orders, and will be formed into four Companies according to their original Battalions.  These will be designated “Home Service” Companies, and will for purposes of pay be attached to their respective Battalions Depot Company from the 24^th inst.  These “Home Service” men will accordingly be struck off the strength of their original Service or Depot Company from the date mentioned.

They will not be absorbed into any Depot Company.

For disciplinary and administrative purposes the “Home Service” Companies will form part of the Command of the Officer Commanding Grouped Depot Companies.  The Officers doing duty with the “Home Service” Companies are to be considered as temporarily attached only.

542 – N.C.O.’s and Men temporarily released from Military Duty –

            All Non-commissioned Officers and men of the Service Companies temporarily released from their military duty to take up civil employment, will be transferred without delay to their respective Depot Companies.  Their documents will be handed over to the Officer Commanding Grouped Depot Companies, and they will remain supernumerary to the establishment of the Depot Companies.

543– Extracts from Northern Command Orders –

MUSKETRY – GENERAL COURSE –

            Command Order No 1317 of the 21^st inst. is cancelled, and the following substituted: – With reference to Command Order No. 967 of June 8^th, Note “B,” the practice to be omitted is practice 11 (eleven), Part II, and not 2 (two) Part I.

(G.M.) Northern Command Order No.1331.

544 – Command Orders – Attention called to –

            The attention of Officers Commanding Units is directed to Northern Command Orders 1333, 1334, 1336, and 1337 of 22^nd July, 1915.

545 – School of Cookery – Northern Command –

            With reference to Northern Command Order No.1334 of 22^nd July, 1915, Officers Commanding Units will take this opportunity of getting their Company Cooks trained.

546 – Horse Rugs –

            With reference to Northern Command Order No.1137 of 22^nd July, 1915, Officers Commanding Units will, before returning their horse rugs to the Ordnance Depot, York, apply to the Senior Medical Officer, the Brigade, for the use of Brigade Disinfector.       

T.L.B. SOUTRY, Captain,

Brigade-Major, 102^nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade.