A WARTIME LOG

Jul28

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 5^TH 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.

The Retreat of Stalag 7 from “JOE”

Jul26

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.

Letter from Peter C. Benham to his mother.

Jul22

Major P.C. Benham

G Branch

HQ I Corps District

B.L.A..

Sunday 22 July 45

My dearest Maz,

This will be my last letter to you until I return which I hope will be on Thursday. – On Monday and again yesterday there was a day’s postponement on account of gales in the channel so instead of getting home on Wednesday I’m now not due back until Friday, but Charles is going a day before me and, as there is no check up on the date you leave here (one gets the same length of time in England) I shall go back with him, leaving here on Wednesday. There’s a terrific wind blowing today and I only hope and pray it won’t cause another day’s postponement.

I was delighted during the week to hear all your news in your letters dated 13^th and 17^th. When was Teenie married – I imagine it must have been yesterday – I’m sorry to have missed yet another wedding. I hope old John gets back while I’m home – he will probably look like a nigger I should think and will no doubt have some most interesting stories to tell.

This week seems to have gone past fairly quickly and I’ve had several evenings out. On Wednesday evening Charles and I went to the Cinema where we saw ‘Together Again’ – Irene Dunn and Charles Boyer, well worth seeing and good entertainment. On Thursday I gave a small dinner party, the guest of honour being Dick Carrick, who was at Uppingham with me and is in one of our Divs, Charles and Trevor Harrison (my G’s) were the others. On Friday I was also at the Officers’ Club, this time as Trevor’s guest, he was celebrating his birthday. Oh! and I forgot to mention that on Monday night I had dinner with George Holden, now a Major, he was the chap I came on leave with last time. It was a guest night in his mess and a very enjoyable evening we had too. So my week has been a fairly gay one, and during office hours, except for Monday, not such a hectic one as usual. The pressure of work has died down considerably. I’ve had a really lazy day today so far, this morning after breakfast at 9 ocl I wandered out for a short walk and then sat around in the mess reading yesterdays papers. This afternoon shame on me, but it was not pleasant outside, I retired to my room where I spent a couple of hours on my bed alternately reading and snoozing! Charles and I are going out later to see a film – I’m told it’s quite amusing, and so will end a quiet and restful day. Yes, I do so hope the weather is good when I’m home, Eileen hasn’t booked up anywhere, and I’m very pleased – I gave her a free hand in that direction – I think the odd day or two out is much better, don’t you? I’m longing to have a bang at a tennis ball – heaven knows what I shall be like – it’s two years since I touched a racquet. Well Maz I must away and will give you any further news when we meet on Thursday. My love to Pari and Elli. I’m longing to see you again – only 4 more days. Much love

Yours as ever

very affectionately

Peter

In envelope headed ‘On Active Service’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 23 JY 45. Passed by censor No 15487 and signed P.C. Benham.

On front of envelope Written July 22^nd 1945 rec July 26^th 1945. (27)

Letter from Peter C. Benham to his mother.

Jul15

Major P.C. Benham

G Branch

HQ I Corps District

B.L.A..

Sunday 15 July 45

My dearest Maz,

Another week has just slipped by bringing with it, inter alia, the great news about the flat, great news because I was so hoping that something might turn up before my next leave so that Eileen and I can go and have a good look round it before she goes there for good at the end of August – it’s all very exciting and it sounds from all accounts an absolute piece of cake – I’m just longing to see it – and the price for these days seems amazingly reasonable.

My week has been quite a varied one, from the actual work point of view it can never be described as particularly interesting – Monday probably was as good as most I’ve had out here – I was given rather an important job to do which meant visiting two of our HQ’s and the time limit meant only one thing namely that an air trip was necessary. I flew from here to one HQ – from there to the second and then back – it was a perfect day and the journey took us over some lovely country (I was in an Auster – one of the Artillery spotting planes) and also most interesting sight over the Ruhr. The first stop was Bad Godesberg of Chamberlain fame, where I had a super lunch with the General and the menu – not for my benefit but their usual – was lovely salmon mayonnaise, rissoles, creamed spinach, heart of lettuce, garden ps and new spuds – apricot jelly, strawberries and real thick cream, coffee and real cream, they do themselves very well. I will tell you more about it when I see you. I had tea the other day with John Stevens, he goes on leave the day before I do but I hope to meet him for a drink when I’m back – I wonder if John Leaning will be back – I do so hope he is.

On Thursday I found myself on night duty and as I was meal relief officer on Wednesday I wasn’t able to get out in the evening. Yesterday evening I went over to a guest night in another mess but did nothing but chat and have myself fairly plentifully supplied from the running buffet and the bar – I left at about 11 ocl as I was feeling a bit weary. My dear the heat these last few days – I’ve never known anything like it – today has been a real scorcher and I’ve made the most of it. Tim Roberts, Charles and I set off at 11.30 am for the Mohne Lake on which we spent a solid 4 hours canoeing and sunbathing – the whole day I’ve been clad in an open necked shirt, khaki shorts and stockings (and I’ve rather fancied myself in the rig-out. We took a sandwich lunch with us and had tea in the officers’ club, a very good tea it was too. When I got back I had a good bath and have now just had my dinner – I wisely kept my shirt on most of the afternoon but my knees got properly ‘burnt’ and tingle like anything – still it was a great day.

I never thanked you for your long and interesting letter of the 10^th – many thanks – I was very pleased to hear that Louisa is better – it sounds as though it will be some time before Clacton is back on its feet again.

Only 10 more days now and I shall be back once again in the Borough – I shall also be back for the announcing of the result of the General Election – should I be prepared to coo and ring a bell or cheer and wave my blue favour? The latter I rather think. Yes it’s a great thought that I shall soon be back and I’m longing to see you again – yes, a game of tennis is most certainly indicated. I hope the weather is fine.

All this sun today has made me feel very sleepy so I must away to bed. My love to Par and Elli, my love to you and God bless,

Yours as ever

very affectionately

Peter

In envelope headed ‘On Active Service’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 16 JY 45. Passed by censor No 15487 and signed P.C. Benham.

On front of envelope Written July 15^th 1945 rec July 19^th 1945. (26)

Letter from Peter C. Benham to his mother.

Jul12

Major P.C. Benham

G Branch

HQ I Corps District

B.L.A..

Thursday 12 Jul 45

My dearest Maz,

This is just a wee ‘interim’ note to tell you how delighted I was on Tuesday to receive the good news about the flat and to hear your other topics of interest. Yes I am very relieved indeed to know that something has been fixed and I can’t thank you enough for all the trouble you have taken – you did exactly the right thing. All being well Eileen will have viewed the premises today and I’m longing to hear what she says about it. Your description was excellent – if it’s only half as good as that it will be first class.

Sorry this is so short but it is written in some haste – All my news on Sunday. Much love, Maz dear, here’s to the 25^th – only another 12 days –

Yours as ever

very affectionately

Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 13 JY 45. Passed by censor No 15487 and signed P.C. Benham.

On front of envelope Written July 12^th 1945 rec July 16^th 1945. (25)

Letter from Peter C. Benham to his mother.

Jul12

Major P.C. Benham

G Branch

HQ I Corps District

B.L.A..

Sunday 8 July 45

My dearest Maz,

I got slightly worried on Tuesday when your letter of the 29^th arrived reporting no sign of the letter I had written on the 24^th – but I was re-assured yesterday when I heard from you that it had eventually turned up – what a long time it had taken to come but as you say the reason must have been that the Base Censor – very base, had been at it – a most unusual thing as they take only one or two at random from the thousands that pass through their hands. Many thanks, Maz dear for your letters and also for the profusion of excellent reading matter which arrived during the week – Picture Post, Readers Digest etc etc – all most gratefully received. I was most interested to hear of Clifford King’s ‘civvy suiting’ it all sounds very superior and pansy. I wonder if there is any chance of Pari being out by the time I get home on the 25^th? It would be grand if he is. I also look forward to a game of tennis when I’m back – I haven’t hit a ball now for two years and feel really keen on having a whack.

The week has gone by very quickly and I’ve had 3 evenings ‘out’ – the first on Monday when I went to the Officers’ Club for the farewell party of a friend of mine (release group 6) we had a very jolly evening. On Wednesday I brought Tim Roberts back for an early dinner and afterwards we went along to see the ENSA show; we had been told how frightful it was but I must admit that I’ve seen many worse. The compere was alleged to have been Jack Buchanan’s understudy – quite possible but it must have been in JB’s very early days! – he was one of the pansiest chaps I’ve seen for many a long day – excellent false teeth, crimped greying hair a tail coat and white tie and ‘Mutt and Geoff’ with cellophane wrapping on his lapel – we got a lot of fun out of him. I’ve got a feeling that he thought we were laughing at his jokes!

Last night Charles and I went to see a film called ‘Music for Millions’, very sloppy in parts but with some excellent music and humour. I enjoyed it a lot. Otherwise the week has just been work – very busy but being away each night at 7.30 makes a big difference and having Sunday off is an absolute Godsend. This afternoon Tim Roberts and I took a car out to the Mohne Dam which is about an hour’s run from here and the scene of that great exploit, still very apparent, for which Guy Gibson got his VC. It was a lovely afternoon and we each had a cause out on the lake for about an hour and a half. Afterwards we ‘made’ a really good tea at a sort of officers’ club place which they are starting.

Many thanks for sending on the photos – they really weren’t too bad, but might have been better I think, the best were the one of you and Sandy, Eileen holding stick, and Sandy! I have sent them back to her. She seems to be getting very excited at the thought of her forthcoming release, so should I be if mine was as near as hers. I wish they would hurry ours up a bit though I’m afraid there is little likelihood of that happening. In just one day over a fortnight’s time my journey homeward will have started and am I looking forward to it? Yessir. I very much doubt if I shall be able to get to Harwich this time as I don’t think the Harwich route is still open – later on I believe they are going to use the route from the Hook to Harwich.

I finished the last piece of that wonderful cake the other day, it had been well eked out, it really was a beauty. I won’t send the tin back as I shall be coming back so soon, I will bring it when I come. I haven’t been able to do much scrounging recently for stamps, there just hasn’t been a chance though I keep a constant look-out for anything that’s going. Well, little Maz, I must away now to have a bath which is now being got ready for me – I can’t get over old Williams going to Pages for his house selling – a very bad show I call it. Please give my love to Pari and Elli. I’m so longing to see you again on the 25^th all being well. Much love

Yours as ever

very affectionately

Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 9 JY 45. Passed by censor No 15487 and signed P.C. Benham.

On front of envelope Written July 8^th 1945 rec July 11^th 1945. (25)

Minute Sheet No. I

Jul2

Letter from Lt. Col R.C. TARSY to HQ 404 Area IA

Letter from Col. A. USER to Lt. Col RC TARSY IB

CONFIDENTIAL IA

“G” Branch SEAC

HQ 404 L of C Area 19 May 45

Subject TTD

I have recently come to this Command from another and more progressive theatre.
I am amazed to find that here DDT is still being used instead of TTD, which is 100% more effective. Att. Is a letter from Col A. User eloquising this wonderful new insecticide.
I am writing, therefore, to ask that a directive be issued through Staff Channels ordering TTD to be taken into immediate use.
The Gun, Flit, INDIA, 1945, Mk. VI with a slight modification to the nozzle, is suitable for spraying TTD. The modification is necessary owing to the viscosity of TTD. Since the Gun, Flit, INDIA, 1945, Mk VI is still a controlled store, G. SD sanction will be required, I understand, for their release.

R.C. Tarsy

Lt. Col.

R.C. TARSY

PUKHA BUNGALOW

SWETHIPORE

From Col. A. USER 15 May 45

Dear Stinker,

Just a line to let you know what a wonderful stuff your TTD is. I found that flies, mosquitos, etc curl up as soon as they saw it and a startle-de-buzz which flew into a mild concentration was immediately pranged. Stronger concentrations prove fatal to rats, mice and even cats. After my room has been sprayed thoroughly no animal will go near it for a week and I find that after half an hour in the room, I myself develop a very gay light headed feeling. The advantages of the army adopting TTD are obvious and since fair concentrations have a not dissimilar effect on humans to alcohol a considerable reduction should be able to be made in the liquor ration without hardship, with a consequent saving of shipping space.

Yours very sincerely

User

“Q” Branch

At IA is a letter from Lt. Col R.C. TARSY which is self explanatory. Unfortunately this Branch is unaware of the appointment held by Lt. Col TARSY nor do they know what credence should be placed in his statements.
Although the letter is addressed to G Branch it is felt that this is correctly a matter of Q policy and is therefore passed to you for consideration.
Provided that “Q” branch and MED favour the adoption of the use of T.T.D., that ADOS confirms that supplies of Guns, Flit, INDIA, 1945 Mark VI are available, and that ADME can make the necessary modifications and that S & T confirm that T.T.D. can be supplied this branch will consider the sanction of the release of Guns, Flit, INDIA, 1945 Mark VI.
Will you please therefore consider this matter and, if the scheme is viewed favourably by all concerned, minute back to this Branch for final sanction of release of Guns, Flit, INDIA, 1945 Mark VI.

G Branch

24 May 1945 P.W. Daniell Maj.

for Lt. Col. GS.

MINUTE SHEET No. II

AG Branch

With ref to min No. 2 and the correspondence referred to therein, you will no doubt agree that before we proceed further with this case we should know more of Col. TARSY’s antecedents. Can you for example give us any infm. regarding his Regt. or Corps, or say what appt. he holds. A brief sketch of his military background would assist.

It has been suggested that his initials have been confused with his religious denomination and that his name should, in fact, read “Lt. Col. TARSY RC”. You may wish to ask Ch to comment on this?

E.O. Martin Maj.

25 May for AAQMG

G(I)

It is agreed that the two signatories of pp IA & IB require to be investigated and it is suggested that this might well be done through security channels at this stage in view of the necessity of not alarming a possible enemy agent. It occurs to us that this substance may already have been brought surreptitiously into this HQ and be the cause of the air of somnolence which has been observed in some branches of late.

It is also thought that an inspection of the list of shareholders in the firm manufacturing T.T.D. might be very revealing. At the same time an inspection of their last balance sheet might be made, and if the report were favourable this would have the happy result of enabling some officers to get in on the ground floor before placing orders for large quantities of T.T.D. to be bought by the State. Could a copy of this report please be sent to A branch? GP 25/5

Letter from Lt Col RC TARSY to HQ 404 Area. 5A

CONFIDENTIAL 5A

No XYZ/10/2

No 1 Special Insectological Research Section

SEAC

“G” Branch

HQ 404 L of C Area 20 May 45

Subject TTD

I regret that the number and address were inadvertently omitted from my letter to you dated 19 May 45, on the above subject. (IA)
I am therefore writing in case you should be unaware of the august appointment which I have the honour to hold and also of the correct address to which to reply.
You are doubtless aware that Mr. Churchill takes a personal interest in the work of this Section and I have instructions to make a report direct to him if I meet any lack of cooperation.

R.C. Tarsy

Lt. Col

Comd.

(R.C. TARSY)

Letter from Messrs Share Pusher & Diddle to Capt. AN Officer 6A

Messrs Share Pusher & Diddle

666 Throgmorton Street

London EC 1

7 May 45

Dear Sir,

We are in receipt of your letter of 15 Apr. 45 and are pleased to note that you have a further Rs 2 lakhs which you wish us to invest for you.

We would strongly advise you to invest a large part, if not all, of this sum in British Insecticides (1944) Ltd. This company specialises in the manufacture of TTD in which the Government are interested. At the moment small contracts have been placed by the Government but large contracts from the War Department are shortly expected thanks to the good offices of the chairman’s brother Lt. Col. R.C. Tarsy.

Since this information is not at present common knowledge and last year the company paid no dividends at all, their shares stand at a ridiculously low price and are bound to show a very handsome profit.

A certain Col. A. User of Swethipore is also using his good offices to try to stir the Indian Army from its Rip Van Winkle slumbers. The Colonel recently invested a very substantial sum in the company.

We shall be pleased if in due course you will intimate your wishes in this matter.

Yours faithfully

Share Pusher & Diddle

Capt. A.N. Officer

HQ 404 L of C Area

SEAC

MINUTE SHEET No III

Letter from Lt Col R C TARSY to HQ 404 Area 5A

Letter from Messrs Share, Pusher & Diddle to Capt A N OFFICER 6A

“Q” Branch ~~(thro’ A.G. Branch.)~~

At minute 4 will be seen an attempt by AG Branch, in their usual manner, to pass the baby.
By a happy concatenation of circumstances this Branch is able to supply the answers required.
Enclosure 5A is a letter from Lt. Col. RC TARSY which appears to establish his bona fides as doubtless AG Branch will now have NO difficulty in turning up his personal records.
At 6A is a letter recently received by an officer of this Branch from his Stock Brokers which makes it appear that British Insecticides (1944) Ltd. is a good bet. Capt. OFFICER has apparently been very fortunate on the race course recently.

G Branch P.W. Daniell. Major

25 May 44 For Lt. Col GS.

Extract from “Who’s Who” 1927 8A

Extract from “WHO’S WHO” (1927)

TARSY, Major RUDOLPH CARBINE

e.s. of Capt. Hon. D’Arcy Tarsy, 5^th s. of 12^th Earl of UPOVER

b. 1865. Educated Eaton & Ashton-under-Lyme University.

m. 1908. MAISIE DOATS (of Daly’s). Issue 2 d.

(1) UHWATT X. TARSY (unmarried)

(2) FAN. TARSY m. 1927. –USHER (origins unknown) no issue

Commissioned Great War as Major November 1916

Resigned commission Feb 1917 (after the Bagshaw Report on Abuse of Kings Commissions)

Business:- Company Promoter, Commercial Traveller etc etc.

Author of “Get Rich Quick With Me” (500 copies) “You Too Can Sell Gold Mines” (Limited Edition) “Five Years At Government Expense” etc etc.

Recreations:- Amateur Chemistry, Selling Things, Studying Handwriting etc etc

Clubs:- Con Man’s, Bag O’Nails, 43 etc etc

MINUTE SHEET No IV

“G” Branch (Thro “Q”)

So far from passing the baby this Branch has been indulging in fervid research in order to render assistance in the matter.
This research has revealed (1) the history of Lt. Col (sic) R.C. TARSY as contained in “Who’s Who” (1927 Edn) (2) that his name does not appear in any current Army List & if this is not surprising considering his age, it is peculiar how he acquired his present rank. (3) Lt. Col. A. User’s name does not appear in A.L. either but it is noted that Col TARSY’s younger daughter married a man called according to “Who’s Who” “—– USHER”
In view of Lt. Col Tarsy’s hobbies it seems quite probable that his son-in-law is innocent & that no such person as Lt. Col. User exists.
In spite of the evidence to the contrary contained in “Who’s Who” (1927 Edn) this Branch feels that Lt. Col Tarsy may also be non-existent. Can “G” Branch produce anything other than documentary evidence to prove that he exists (e.g. a lock of hair, photograph etc.)?
Suggest thorough investigation through “I” channels but ‘S & T’ should be asked re “T.T.D.”, as if it exists & if it contains all the properties claimed for it, Officers Messes, bed rooms & offices should be sprayed at the earliest.
Please keep this Branch informed as disciplinary action may be nec^y.

25 May 45 GH Burton Capt.

S.C. (Legal) A Branch

Rev***********

Minute Sheet No V

G. Branch Ref previous noting on this case:-

I think you will agree that the time has come when it will be in our own best interests and, incidentally, in the interest of the nation as a whole to accept Col. TARSY’s antecedents.

Subject to your agreement I propose, immediately, to raise with the services concerned the question of the adoption of T.T.D. throughout this theatre.

~~The shares have risen to 30/- since Tuesday.~~

28 May E.O. Martin Maj.

DAQMG

Q Branch

We are in complete agreement with your minute 10.

No 1 S I R Section is in this Area and we are at a loss to understand AG Branch’s obstructive attitude, unless it is that they are playing for time while they raise all the money they can to invest in British Insecticides (1944) Ltd.

In view of para 3 of Lt. Col TARSY’s letter at 5A it would be criminal folly to delay consulting the services any longer unless you like very high power rockets

G Branch P.W. Daniell Maj.

28 May 45 for Lt. Col. GS

Copy

Letter from Mr. Thaddeus Toombs to Messrs Freeman Hardy & Willis 12A

12 A

Thaddeus Toombs

Circus Proptr

Performing Animals Provided: Tame Tigers for Children’s Parties

Assorted Snakes

21 Gasworks Villas

Congleton

To Messrs Freeman Hardy & Willis Solicitor London EC

Sirs,

I want you should write to that dirty dog Kernel Tarsy about what he done with my performing fleas & cockroaches what will sham dead when they smells aniseed.

He said he wanted to borer them for a ~~demmys~~ ~~deemu~~ ~~demmstre~~ to show the War Offis. Tell him if I don’t get them back Tuesday I’ll have the law on him. And another thing, what’s he done to our Fanny, the world famous equestrienne? She don’t eat, can’t sleep & fell off her horse in the ring last Saterday. I’ll now draw to a close.

Yours respectfully, sirs,

Thaddeus Toombs

Minute Sheet No VI

Could a sample of T.T.D. be obtained & submitted to analysis? I’ve always been interested in analysis & synthesis (as an amateur you understand – remind me to give you my recipe for home brewed scotch-style fire water) & it occurs to me that an analysis in this case might reveal something. Why I suggest this is because my solicitors, Freeman Hardy & Willis have sent me in strict confidence a copy of a letter they have received from Thaddeus Toombs, Circus Proprietor which seems to have a bearing on the subject. Yes? No? What do you think? (How are you fixed for gin, by the way? I can give you a recipe for distilling it from your bath-water, in the privacy of your own bedroom. Enclose 4 as in stamps to cover packing & postage.)

Q 30 May 45

Minute Sheet No VII

Ref minute 13

(Was it malice of forethought that you waited until you arrived at this unlucky No, before consulting S.T.? This Branch is intimately concerned & should have been let in much earlier).

To reply to your queries in the order of their importance.

Gin stocks low. Grateful if you can do anything about this – but the fact that your bath water, when distilled, produces gin does not necessarily indicate that ours will.

We have grave doubts that an analysis of this case as it now stands will reveal anything at all. There are several gaps that require buttoning up.

(I) If you will refer to page I.B. you will see that Col. User states that T.T.D. when merely sprayed in his room, gives him a very gay & light headed feeling.

(II) On the same page this officer states that no animal will go near his room.

(III) In minute 4 “A” Branch suggest that the surreptitious introduction of T.T.D. into this HQ may account for the somnolence of same Branches.

These three statements appear contradictory, particularly as I have not noticed any staff officers keeping away from HQ since the alleged introduction of the T.T.D..

Neither “G” nor “A” appear to be aware that a Pest Control & Destruction Unit has recently arrived in this Area from UK. Surely they should be consulted, & might be asked to carry out experiments as to the effectiveness of this new insecticide. If necessary, we can suggest various Pests who might well be the subject of experiment.

Stocks of T.T.D. are NOT yet available.

It is the considered opinion of ST that there has been a slight misunderstanding. T.T.D. does not, in fact, exist, & it is thought that the commodity under consideration is probably F.D.F. This will probably give a different complexion to the case, & possibly yourself.

1/6 S & T

Minute Sheet No VIII

Med

Ref Minute 14

Before returning to “Q” will you pl. comment on-

para 1 (a) from the point of view of hygiene.

Para 2 (last sub para) a psychological problem?

Pl. pass to Vet for their remarks also.

1/6 S & T

Letter received from I. B. Rogers-ffoulkes-Rogers Esq. addssd G Branch 404 Area

16A

Farquham Hall

Bashem-on-Couch

Norfolk

2^nd June 1945

G. Branch

HQ 404 L of C Area

South East Asia Command

Gentlemen,

It is with a warm personal interest in your organization that I write to you in the hope that you may be able to offer me a certain measure of assistance in my present dilemma. I regret to have to add that I am at this moment balancing on one of the horns thereof.

As you know, my son, the late U.R. Rogers-ffoulkes-Rogers was, until shortly before his premature decease, serving in your Headquarters as G.II (I) and was, in the course of his duties investigating the effects of Alcoholism & drug taking on Staff Officers as a part of the “Careless talk costs lives” campaign.

When his personal effects were sent to me, as his nearest & consequently most intimate relation (our doings were invariably closely connected). I found among them a small tin labelled “T.T.D.” and containing a fine white powder. The use of this substance and its effects had puzzled me for some considerable time until one day completely by chance I happened to hit on the idea of sniffing the powder. I found it had a passing pleasurable fragrance combined with an effect of exhilaration not unlike that of a magnum of champagne.

I pursued my enquiries further and a warm personal friend of mine who is by way of selling feelthy post cards (and I can assure you that they are far feelthier than most cards) and other appliances of a doubtful nature and even more doubtful efficacy, was able to materially assist me in my research. He informed me that this substance was the product of a firm known as British Insecticides (1944) Ltd. who were “pushing” this product as a substitute for D.D.T. which as it is well known is extremely costly to produce.

I omitted at that time to ask him where they were pushing it but doubtless the manufacturers would be able to furnish the necessary information if it is thought to be relevant. In any case I feel sure that many of your HQ officers would be able to elucidate.

On a further perusal of his personal diary I found a note against Jan 1^st 1945. “Feeling frightful: must remember to get some more snow from Med”. This I feel sure you will appreciate, is incomprehensible to me, phrazed as I suppose it must be, in General Staff parlance, but the thing that struck me was the uncommon similarity between the powder labelled T.T.D. and ordinary snow. I feel this may have some significance.

The only other entry that appears in any way connected with the mystery is on Feb 14^th & reads “Med getting touchy over handing over: Must push Q for acceptance of TTD as substitute. Try and interest S & T”.

Shortly before writing to you I received a reply to a letter I wrote to Messrs Sharepusher & Diddle my brokers, enquiring if this concern, British Insecticides (1944) Ltd was a sound investment as I feel strongly that anything that interested my son it is my duty to support. Their reply was to the effect that although, to date, no dividends had yet been paid by this company; due to confidential information in their possession they were able to assure me this lamentable state of affairs would shortly be remedied. It appears that they have contacts in high places in S.E.A.C. and possibly of course in 404 Area and large contracts are expected hourly.

I feel certain you will appreciate my difficulty. I am quite unable to decide whether or not to invest in this company & even were I to be able to decide, I am unable to fathom my son’s connection with either the product or the manufacturers.

Any information with which you are able to furnish me would be gratefully received.

I am, gentlemen

Yours sincerely

I.B. ROGERS-FFOULKES-ROGERS.

Copy of three alliterative verses found in S & T Branch and referring remotely to T.T.D. & its effects. 17A

17A

Col. R.C. TARSY’s pushing TTD.

Where does he want to push it ? – you tell me.

Seems his motives are suspicious, and

He wants to join that vicious band

Wot snuffs up snow from breakfast time till tea.

Should the Army take its finger out and push

This vile, delicious, soul-destroying mush,

For a time our lads in Burma

Will campaign without a murmur

And disembowel all Japs in one mad rush.

But the aftermath will not be nice to see,

There’ll be hell a-poppin ’mongst the soldiery.

And if they can’t continue snuffin’

TTD, they’ll knock the stuffin’

Out of blokes what ought to bring it- S & T.

Anon

GII (I)

Found among the archives of S & T Branch & forwarded as it is felt that a careful examination by G (I) may reveal ‘itherto an un’eard ~~‘ights~~ of depths of meaning.

Extract from The Manchester Guardian of 15 May 45 referring to a new insecticide to be used in SEAC. 18A

18A

EXTRACT FROM “THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN” OF 15 MAY 45.

INVENTION OF NEW INSECTICIDE TO BE USED IN SEAC.

(By our special correspondent).

A high ranking Staff officer who has first returned from the depths of the Chittagong jungle, having- as he succinctly put it managed to persuade “A” Branch to remove their finger & put him down under scheme SLICK, informs me that a wonderful new insecticide is shortly to be brought into use in SEAC as soon as production can be arranged both in this country and in India. One go-ahead Headquarters is I understand already studying distribution on a large scale by pipeline. Reports from units who have already tried this product show that all ranks are enthusiastic and wish to have it brought into general use with minimum delay. The reason for this universal acclaim is apparently that it kills all kinds of insects with an admirable lack of discrimination & at the same time it possesses a very pleasant smell and imparts a feeling of well-being to anyone entering even a mild concentration. It is also claimed that it will undoubtedly save shipping space as it will enable officers who at present have to spend a large part of their pay on alcohol to keep at bay the effects of malaria, to slice their drink ration by 80%.

Reuter.

Letter from 2/Lt. V.D. Pimple-Bottome to G Branch 404 Area 19A

19A

To “G” Branch 404 Area thro’ proper channels

During the course of my many duties in the S & T Branch I came across (by complete accident, please note) the TTD Policy File and after perusing the contents I have come to the conclusion that in view of the tremendous effect, the premature or imprudent introduction of this potent insecticide would have on the SEAC campaign, surely the suitable classification can only be TOP SECRET. This is an inexcusable lapse of security meriting the usual disciplinary action.

I view with grave concern that almost all the interested parties are senior officers – surely this is not another example of the exclusion of the junior officers from the good things of life. It would appear that the introduction of TTD would effect a considerable saving on the pocket of the junior subaltern allowing him to get as tight as the proverbial tick at will, instead of being forced to imbibe one lemon squash nightly. Perhaps Welfare would like to comment on this?

I would suggest that the introduction of a pipeline in 404 Area in the style of the 6” USA line leading from the source of supply to all offices would prove a great boon & time saving factor. A special pack to be devised for all touring officers away from HQs for more than three days! – this suggestion is not to be sniffed at.

To improve the knowledge of the layman on the technical operation of the scheme brief details are appended so that the system may function without interruption or delay.

It is considered that the method of distribution envisaged i.e. a pipeline would produce the optimum results at a minimum operating cost. Briefly the layout would be for a tank farm to established for bulk storage in the site at present occupied by the Signals Car Park, with a mixing plant for introduction of the solvent to be sited in the present half constructed basha some way up the hill (originally intended to house the anticipated gaggle of half colonels consequent upon the reorganisation of HQ as a district).

This will allow a gravity feed to the farm installation, distribution to be made by 6” Victurallic pipe with removable couplings & neoprene seals. Two Ingersoll Rand 8 stage 250 GPM capacity pumps will be sufficient for Area and Sub Area HQ distribution. If it is considered necessary or desirable these may be augmented by further pumps for outlying stations. The estimated throughput is not yet known. “Q” may please be asked to speak on this. It is proposed to have off take points in A.Q.G., Med, Camp, S & T & M.E. Branches with a central storage on the roof of the main HQ building.

Considerable strengthening will have to be undertaken to enable this ancient structure to serve but as it is proposed to expand the scheme later to embrace the DCE 141 Works this should be accomplished without difficulty.

V.D. Pimple-Bottome

2/Lt

ION no 6/2000/GSD from GSD to Med 20A

Letter No 6/2000/GSD from HQ 404 Area to Lt. Col R.C. Tarsy 20B

Letter from Lt. Col. R.C. TARSY to HQ 404 L of C Area 20C

20A

Inter Office Note CONFIDENTIAL

Med.

Subject TTD

Att are a letter from Lt. Col. TARSY together with a sedative reply.
From the tone of Col TARSY’s letter it will be seen that it is essential that a reply is sent to him at a very early date.
It is understood from Q Branch that you have been sitting on this file for the best part of quite some while and it is now earnestly requested that you remove your digit and produce an answer.
Please add this ION and the two att letters as enclosures to our file.

No 6/2000/GSD P.W. Daniell Maj

HQ 404 L of C Area SEAC 16 Jun 45 For Lt. Col GS

20B

CONFIDENTIAL

No 6/2000/GSD

HQ 404 L of C Area

SEAC

Lt. Col RC TARSY 16 Jun 45

No 1 S.I.R.S.

SEAC

Subject TTD

Ref your unnumbered letter of 14 Jun 45 (20C)

It is regretted that there has been such a plaguing long delay in replying to your letter but I have NO doubt that you will appreciate that a decision on a matter of such moment can NOT be light heartedly given.
In fact there are a number of implications each of which has to be studied and reported upon by the expert branch or service concerned. Far from being neglected this subject has been the subject of diligent research by all my subordinates.
Unfortunately it is NOT at present possible to give you a definite answer as Medical experts are taking an inordinately long time, owing entirely to lack of equipment, to complete their researches.
I will however give you a reply at the earliest possible moment, and meanwhile my distribution experts are working out details for a piped supply throughout the Area.

Brig.

Comd.

20C

“G” Branch No 1 S.I.R.S.

HQ 404 L of C Area SEAC

14 Jun 45

Subject TTD

I am most surprised NOT to have received any reply from you to my two previous letters on the above subject. (1A & 5A)
Before coming to this theatre I had heard nothing which did NOT redound to your credit and in fact had understood that to you alone was due the credit for our recent victories in the ARAKAN.
In view of the extreme tardiness which you have displayed in this matter I can only assume that I was misinformed and that in fact these victories were won in spite of you.
Will you please therefore give this matter your immediate attention as it is one the importance of which cannot be overstressed.
Meanwhile I am reporting to Mr. CHURCHILL that in view of the incompetence displayed in this matter I consider that the moment your HQ has completed its present role (which I understand will be shortly) you should be ignominiously disbanded

R.C. TARSY

Lt. Col.

Comd.

MINUTE SHEET No IX

MINUTE 21

To GS (D) through “Q”

Subject T.T.D.

Ref enclosure 20 A, B, & C.
This correspondence is noted with great interest. The delay in replying is regretted but an extremely interesting phenomenon has been occupying this branch for several days now. An extremely loud sound was heard resembling that made by a species of oak bark when being withdrawn from the narrow orifice of a glass container. The feeling in the branch was described as the “bottom falling out of things” and on the flood produced, this file was borne to my desk entirely by chance I feel.
This new chemical synthesis referred to commonly by lay people as T.T.D. and correctly designated Trichloro-Tryptarsole-Dodecahedrine is so revolutionary in its effect that the defeat of the enemy may now be taken for granted.
From a hygiene point of view this compound has all the inherent advantages attributed to D.D.T.
As an insecticide T.T.D. is even more potent, producing a more rapid onset of the convulsive friggings which soon end in death.
It is from a psychological point of view that T.T.D. is most interesting. The feeling of well being produced in man inhaling the vapour given off by T.T.D. closely resembles the state produced by a carefully controlled intake of alcohol such as is achieved by addicts to this chemical compound after decades of trial and error practice.
Surely this fact will remove all problems of welfare, repatriation and release in S.E.A.C. for who could wish to leave this part of the world if he were living under such admirable conditions??.
Other advantages which will accrue from the use of T.T.D. are:-
1. A complete abolition of the present totally inadequate beer and whisky ration which will be rendered superfluous
2. Saving in wear and tear of the right arm especially the elbow joints as produced by the raising and lowering of glasses containing liquid sustenance for weary souls.
In connection with para 8 (b) above I have an interesting medical syndrome to report. It is one that I have observed more frequently in S.E.A.C. than elsewhere. The main features of the condition are a large painful swelling over the elbow region (see below) and a reddening of nasal organ associated with a spastic condition of the right hand and arm which are held bent at the elbow to 90 ⁰with the fingers in a grasping position separated by the distance of a standard half pint tumbler. The fingers are in a state of oscillation. The swelling over the elbow region is very similar to a condition known as housemaid’s knee and indeed the pathology is identical. Possibly the confusion in nomenclature is caused by the occurrence of the condition both on the knees and elbows in certain gentlemen. The causal factor in all cases is undue pressure over bony prominences, caused by weight taking in unaccustomed places. Minute Sheet No X

A similar interesting condition occurs in those whose occupation involves much sitting and is usually referred to as “weaver’s bottom”.

It is recommended that the universal use of T.T.D. be brought into effect in the shortest possible time in order to combat the current epidemics of fromagitis and acute benders.
I would like the question of air spray to be taken up with the proper or as the case may be improper authority.

Thomas Twaddle-Quack

“M” F.A.R.C.E., B.U.M.

18 Jun 45

Minute Sheet XI

To GS Branch

It is obvious to any trained staff officer that this accumulation of correspondence on this file requires clarification
It is suggested that a meeting of all concerned be called to co-ordinate action for the future.
The contents of this file could be read out with the usual weekly signals.
As it is doubtful if Col. TARSY could attend in person, it is understood from reliable sources that A.P.M. THOMPSON has very direct relationship with that gentleman (it is requested that no further questions be asked) and he could well represent the TARSY point of view.

Maj. DS

Minute Sheet No XII

Letter from Major Ivor Thirst to I.B. Rogers ffoulkes Rogers 23A

23A

DO No 6/2000/GSD

I. Thirst HQ 404 L of C Area

From Major ~~P.W. Daniell~~ SEAC

G II (I) 23 Jun 45

Dear Rogers-ffoulkes-Rogers,

I am answering your letter (16A) written to this HQ DO as your son, my predecessor, was a warm personal friend of mine and also the information you seek can scarcely be given officially by this HQ.

Your son was an extremely capable and zealous officer and it was only due to his keenness and stern sense of duty that he met his premature end. He was as you know studying the effect of Alcoholism and drug taking on Staff Officers and just before his untimely demise was carrying out extensive research on his theory that the efficiency of Staff Officers would be increased 100% provided they could permanently keep one jump ahead of their hangovers. To this end he founded, and became president of, the One-Jumpers Club, which still thrives in this HQ and is a permanent memorial to your son. He set about his task with a determination which had to be seen to be believed. Daily he had a heavy lunch time alcohol session, a couple of stiff brandies for tea and then of course a normal evening session. He found however that he had a tendency to early morning sickness and could not always keep his before breakfast brandies down. However, where lesser men would have been daunted, this only just put him on his mettle and he decided to substitute snow (General Staff parlance for cocaine, morphine etc.) for his early morning brandy. This was extremely efficacious and at the time of his death he was working out what increased dosages of alcohol could be taken in the evening as a result of their enormous jumps ahead of ones’ hangover obtained from snow. The Saturday before his death he had a mild attack of DTs but no hangover. He determined to get one jump ahead of his DTs and started sniffing TTD as well as his other stimulants. Unfortunately his DTs got worse until on the Wednesday evening he was savaged by a pink elephant and mortally wounded. As he lay on the ground dying he beseeched us to get some TTD as he was being bitten unmercifully by swarms of green ants, and he knew that TTD would kill them at once. A moment later he was dead.

We were all extremely glad to see that his self-sacrifice and devotion to duty have not gone unrecognised and that he has an OBE and a mention.

His connection with TTD was not very close, as he was engrossed in his alcoholic experiments. He had however confided in me that he thought it was the answer to a drinker’s prayer and of his intention to invest heavily in the company engaged in its manufacture.

I hope these few lines will enable you to move from the most delicate and uncomfortable position which you have been occupying on a horn.

Yours very sincerely

Ivor Thirst

I.B. Rogers-ffoulkes-Rogers Esq.

Farquham Hall,

Basham-on-Couch

Norfolk

Advance copy of IAO 24A

24A

I.A.O. Advance copy

In order to popularise the use of TTD among the troops a series of brightly written, human anecdotes has been prepared by the author of Capt. T.O. Morrison’s popular series of best sellers. British troops are notoriously conservative in their tastes and rigidly insist on steak puddings & plum duff whatever their surroundings or the prevailing temperature & these simple stories are intended to break down their prejudice against innovations. All officers will read one anecdote per night to their troops before bedtime & enter without reserve into this popularising campaign. Their slogan will be “All for TTD – TTD for all”.

Anecdote No 1 (GHQ (WEC) 230/TTD-DTT FR:A)

TTD Wins the Match (Nearly)

On a sunny June morning in the old college town of Oxford, noted for the numbers of young men over normal school leaving age still receiving full time instruction there, Jasper Hoots awoke at an early hour (06.30 hrs. GMT) & flexed his long & perfectly proportioned body lying between luxurious hospital type sheets. Forcing open his eyes, lightly gummed together as a result of attendance at a “bump” supper the night before , he winced slightly at the rising sun’s rays & then thought, as semi-consciousness returned to him (he never achieved full consciousness) “Heavens! It is the day of Oxford versus Sheffield Wednesday Soccer Match & Annual Bun Fight.” And with a glad shout he leapt out of bed &, by accident, into a bath of cold water. For was not he Captaining

the Oxford side? He was. Filled with glowing health, eyes now nearly fully opened, teeth glistening (“Humpo” cleans dentures over night.) & immaculately clad in blazer, sweater, shorts, longs, braces & pullover, see him trip lightly down the stairs. (It was an empty beer bottle on the top step that caused him to trip.) And then, after a light breakfast of boiled ham, cow’s heels & a delicious pot or two of the famous Oxford marmalade, he went out into the quadrangle, or forecourt, & inhaled lungful after lungful of the bright smoky air, or fog, expanding & contracting as he did so his mighty diaphragm, or chest.

“Come on boys,” he carolled, “All out for the great match” & in a twinkling, or about an hour & three quarters, was surrounded by a crowd of eager sportsmen, or stooges, such as only England could produce.

“Listen, guys,” Jasper shouted, while they all hung on to his words (except a few who preferred to hang on to the quad railings), “We’ve got to beat these Sheffield thugs today. Play up, play up & play the game! Take your TTD & nothing can stop us. Furthermore I have a scheme for slipping in a couple of extra men on our side. No one will notice in this fog.”

Ringing shouts were the response to this stirring speech. It is true that a few members of the team, still under the influence of the previous night’s bump supper were by now fast asleep on the gravel & one or two others were being sick in odd corners, but Jasper’s speech had inspired all who heard it – that is to say a couple of men who had happened to be listening.

It was the work of but a moment to issue the TTD & scarcely three hours had elapsed before all the team, & the two extras, were induced to swallow it. The results were magical! Need we, in fact, go on? No, one thought not. Suffice it to say that the Oxford v Sheffield match of that year will go down in history. Oxford put 23 men in the field & insisted that all should play, because, as Jasper explained, a miscount could happen to anyone. Sheffield scored only 13 goals to Oxford’s NIL & but for TTD would undoubtedly have scored 23.

In after life Jasper made a brilliant success of a career as St Marylebone Mortuary attendant & fervently attributes all his success to TTD.

Don’t miss our next anecdote IT’S GOOD

~~DAAG~~

DAQMG Initialled.

~~APM~~

ADS & T Initialled 23/6 agreed

ADOS

ADME

Since Q Branch and Med appear to agree in principle to the adoption of T.T.D. it is suggested that the simplest way of buttoning the whole matter up, so that a draft reply to Lt. Col. RC TARSY can be put up to the Comd. for approval, is to call a meeting of all interested parties. It is further suggested that, if convenient to all concerned, the meeting should be held at 18.00 hrs. on Monday 2 Jul 45 in C Mess.
Will Branches/Services please be prepared to give firm decisions on the points raised in para 3 of minute 2 and any other germane matter.
Please pass the file quickly in above named order and indicate if the date and time suggested are convenient.
Will APM please note para 4 of minute 22

G Branch P.W. Daniell Maj

22 Jun 45 For Lt. Col GS

Minute Sheet No XIII

G Branch Ref T.T.D. Policy Minute 25

I have read with amazement the wafflings of various branches of this HQ & before I could possibly lower myself to join the proposed conference at some low Tavern ( I presume). I must ask you to realise my important position in this HQ. & I feel that a conference should not have even been considered without reference to me.

When I was DAA & QMG in England & despite the ravages & the fog of war I always insisted on complete control of the HQs involved & of course Cmdrs. & consequently any perks or tips usually offered to Cmdrs., came my way. Not that I was selfish or mean about it as the locals & of course Women of the town benefited indirectly.

The above is attempt to bring home to you my status- especially as I feel that veiled reference is made to me in Med’s minute 21 8 (b). I wish this to be deleted!

I notice some adverse remarks ref A Branch. I could not agree more but such remarks will now cease as I have arrived.
Reference to requests for various S.O.s “To pull the finger out” I would suggest it is extremely hard to do so unless your Senior Officer stands up!
To sum up I have now proved by the foregoing that I am an exceedingly capable person & am therefore competent to handle exclusively this question under review i.e. T.T.D.
Ref folio 19 letter to G from a young pup 2/Lt V.D. Pringle Bottome I fear that his statement is not correct when he states that the benefits (if any) of T.T.D. are being kept from the junior officers- because on my very first night I was with

Minute Sheet XIV

singular disrespect to me & my appt., asked by advancing Dervish of a Capt., “Honey take a sniff with me” or words to that effect, at the same time making weird motions with his hands.

Which again proves that security in this HQ is bad. A Junior Officer should never be told anything. No such breach of Security should have occurred if I had been dealing with this case exclusively.

The shares are now down to 1d.

S.H. Hawke Major

DAAG

23 June 45

After minute

Ref conference as I understand drinks will be paid for by person/persons other than myself I will consent to attend- but my ruling will be final. SHH 23 June 45

Advance copy of IAO 07/45 27A

27A

TTD for all: All for TTD IAO 07/45: Advance copy

Anecdote II

Won by TTD: A Mill Girl’s Romance

Mary Goope was just a factory girl. She worked as a slub basher in the great Huddersfield Slubbing & Dying Mills & lived with her great uncle Elas Sicity in a humble cottage in Abbatoir Road Pudsey & cycled to & from her work daily on a tricycle. Old great uncle Elas gave very little trouble, spending the greater part of his time in one or other of the local prisons. Her work gave her little trouble; she was considered by one and all to be one of the best slub bashers in the works. Her foreman gave her little trouble, seldom being wholly sober & often falling into the great vats of slub. And yet she was not happy!! Why, she asked, was she always a wall flower? Why always a bridesmaid but never (or seldom) a bride? Why did partners at dances come rushing towards her & then, when within a few yards, rush off on another tack & seize any old partner who happened to be hanging around? Why was her hair falling out so that she appeared always to be standing in a dismembered bird’s nest? Why did she bite her finger nails? The food at home, though rough & rude, was at least plentiful. Why, in short, was she not a social success but, on the whole, almost a total loss?

You, intelligent reader, have probably guessed – Any poor fish among our readers who haven’t read on!

One day her sole remaining friend, Cissy Waters (some called her Sissy Waters), a shy, retiring little creature said to her, “Say Toots, you wanter get on to yourself. Where’s your girlish charm? Where’s the body beautiful? If you don’t watch out you’ll lose em both.”

Mary winced at the kindly words; gently though they were spoken.

“Aw, lay offer me,” she shyly replied, “I feel kinda punk but lemme tell you –“and out came all her girlish secrets & frustrated longings. Soon Cissy was made aware of all Mary’s hopes & fears, i.e. hopes of clicking & fears of getting left on the shelf. It was a pretty sight to see those two girlish heads close together over the great masses or gobs as they are called, of slub.

“I gotter get that guy,” Mary concluded, “I gotter get him- I got a proper yen for the dumb cluck.”

“You mean Slim Sloper or Basher Beauchamps?” enquired Sissy (or Cissy), who had got rather confused during the narrative.

“Neither, bonehead,” Mary whispered, bashfully, “I wouldn’t be seen dead with either of those tinhorn sports. NO, “she went on, dreamily, stirring the steaming slub in a kind of trance, “it’s Hophead Harry for mine & I don’t mean maybe.”

Cissy (or Sissy) was immediately all womanly solicitude & almost maternal in her yearning for her girl friend’s happiness.

“Then listen, dope,” she softly counselled “take TTD!! Thassall! Just you take it and & see. I’m your best friend but I’m telling you just the same you’ve got halitosis, under arm odours, B.O., athlete’s foot, dandruff & fallen arches. But does that matter? Not if you take TTD, cram full of vitamins, proteins, starch, benzene & the full rich essence of nicotine from old Virginny. Start taking it tomorrow. The large packet contains more than the small ones.”

Next day Mary started on TTD. Her hair stopped falling out: some which had actually fallen bounced back into place again. Her teeth grew slightly less mahogany coloured, her bosom – but need we go on? We were afraid you’d say that- & just as we were getting to the interesting details. OK, then. She got her man. She got all the men she could use. You, too, could get a girl, even in the Officers Club, if you’d follow her example.

Look out for our next TTD Anecdote

It’s a smasher.

Minute Sheet XV

It is a lamentable reflection on the Staff of this HQ that on such an important and highly technical matter, the Technical Services have largely been ignored. However we shall as usual put the staff on the right lines – service with a smile.

The distribution of Trichloro-Tryptarsole-Dodecahedrine by pipe line is in hand. But it’s application especially by members of One Jumpers Club is archaic, having I gather something to do with having “a sniff with me”. This leads me to suppose that dogs come into it somewhere, but may be this will merely prove to be our frightfully doggy Staff or perhaps my warm personal friend, that clueless wonder of the Orient, who daily is pulling on taking his bitches for a “gallop”.

The correct application of T.T.D. requires a highly technical and complicated piece of machinery called, not as supposed by G, “Guns Flit INDIA 1945 MK VI”, but the “Down Draught Bifurcator”. Without modification for India; the machine can only be used to extract all the hot air out of Staff Bull droppings. However modified for India, it can be most successfully employed for applying T.T.D. The details of this modification are with that highly skilled technician the I.T.A. (Inspector of Tin Pants) who is attached to ME Branch.

I Spityfartenkoff

Lieut Col.

LVAB/SE ADOS (Greek Not Available)

24/6/45 Sometime Wizard of OS

Note from ARP Reilly-ffoul 29A

Letter from Mr. Bannerjee to HQ 404 dated 23 Jun 45 29B

29A

The attached was found on the verandah of “C” Mess at 14.00 hrs Sunday 24 June ‘45

A.R.P. Reilly-ffoul

Capt & Adjt.

Gertshire Light Horse.

29B

Bannarjee

Deputy Ast. Stationmaster

Chittagong

23 June ‘45

Sahibs,

It is that I have heard of your wonderful TTD. Daily I try to get some but what to do. I don’t get. 6 and 5 times on Sunday my wife she wanted some and there is none. I go down on my knees & beg the wonderful Permanent President for to use his influence to obtain for me just a little. Huyooi-Achcha wallah daily I am pulling at but you ignore me.

I wait most honourable Sahib

Your pleasures

I.C. Bannerjee

Message from Supreme HQ SEA to HQ 404 30A

Letter from Mr. Churchill to SACSEA 30B

30A

Message Form

From Supreme HQ SEA 23 1130

To 404 Area

Q OPS 1234 Ref attd copy letter personal Churchill to MOUNTBATTEN (.) Report immediately action taken

Signed. Mountbatten Immediate by hand of Lt. Gen. SNOOKS

30B

No 10 DOWNING STREET

WHITEHALL

LONDON S.W. 1

Dear Mountbatten,

I am informed that due to inefficiency within the lesser Headquarters of your Command, there has been undue delay in the acceptance of T.T.D.

Lord Munster himself, when making his report to me in person, told me that his impression was that insufficient interest was being taken in this product.

Lt. Col. R.C. TARSY my personal Representative in S.E.A.C. has written to tell me that to his knowledge NO action has yet been taken on his suggestion made in May.

I did not become H.M. The King’s First Minister to see the efforts of the Crown set at naught by incompetence of minor officials, be it even in so distant an outpost of the Empire.

I wish an immediate report on this matter which I and the Cabinet regard as of prime importance.

You will submit this report.

Winston S. Churchill

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL

Message from HQ 404 to HQ of SACSEA 31A

31A

Message Form

From HQ 404 L of C Area 24 0900

To HQ of SACSEA

Q 1066(.) RESTRICTED(.) Your Q OPS 1234 of 23 Jun(.) Matter still under earnest consideration(.) Hope fwd. full report 3 Jul. 45(.) Apparent tardiness regretted.

Aches

Lt. Col. Immediate

Advance IAO Anecdote No 3 32A

32 A

TTD Anecdote No 3 – & last.

Local Boy Makes Good: Outstanding effect of TTD on 404 Staff Officer

Young Lionel Flute had a chequered Army career. Enlisted, by error, in the ATS, he was rapidly transferred to Army Dental Corps (again an erroneous posting due to the fascination induced by his projecting front teeth on the Staff Officer concerned), & from thence to an Oceanic Tramway Operating Coy. & then as liaison officer to a Mobile Hot Dog Stand & Turkish Bath Unit. It was inevitable, after he had inadvertently accepted a consignment of cement instead of flour for the Hot Dog Bakery, that he should become a Staff Officer. And there we find him, if we are interested enough to look for him, seated at his desk in P Branch of 404 HQ. From the moment of his advent there, things went mysteriously wrong. Troops destined for leave in India found themselves returning to the front by mule ships. Stores for Rangoon were delivered, months later, at Darjeeling. Teams of Army soft ball players arrived at the field to find themselves confronted with teams of dart throwers. ENSA parties gave shows in empty halls simultaneously with packed attendances at other halls with no performers. Confusion reigned. Each Staff Officer looked at his fellow officers askance.

Something was wrong but none could trace the origin of error. Little did they know that it lay in the lack of TTD in Lionel’s system. Signals flashed to & fro without time of origin or originator’s signature, duty officers received imperious messages at dead of night, morning conferences broke down in confusion & despair. Troop movements either ceased altogether or became circular in character so that they always arrived at their starting point. Vet found themselves dealing with Fire Inspection Reports & Welfare became involved with the treatment of diseased elephants. The A.P.M. was confronted with problems of the canteen services (& made a good job of them), while Q branch, in quiet despair, closed down and took to their charpoys.

At this stage Lionel, sitting quietly in P branch in his customary stupor, took a sniff of TTD, mistaking it for cocaine. What a transformation! Normality rapidly returned. Q Branch reopened, with a day off for all the staff. Morning conferences recovered their zest, snap & fire. Troop movements resumed their accustomed static state within reinforcement camps. The Area Cmd. Who had found to his astonishment, planes arriving to convey him hither & thither, resumed his customary waiting on airstrips. All breathed sighs of relief!

Need we add that Lionel went on from strength to strength? Perhaps we needn’t but we’ll do so. You’ll find him now, if you’re sap enough to look, where he always wanted to be. Second fiddle in the Club dance band. You too, sucker, could achieve your hearts desire thro’ TTD.

GET THE LARGE SIZE TIN!!

Minute Sheet No XVI

This Branch is in entire agreement with the feelings expressed by Lt. Col. Spityfartenkoff of O.S. in that the Technical Services have not been consulted in this matter.
After mature study of the chemical analysis of T.T.D., the formula of which I understand is K₉P + 95 parts of raw alcohol. It has been decided by this branch that it could, with unqualifying success, be used as an unbinding agent. This is admirably suited to a repair which is shortly to be notified in Alfro’s as being included in the Schedule of Permissible 2^nd Echelon repairs. That is to say, “the extraction of digits from defective Staff Officers”. That is by way of being an M.E. Responsibility.
The method of repair is firstly to give the officers suffering from the defect a sniff of morphine which causes him to rise. A few drops of T.T.D. are then applied to the offending digit which will at once extract itself with very little noise and discomfort to the defective officer.
Regarding the “Down-Draft-Bifurcators” Referred to in Min XV. Modification stores for these instruments are now to hand, owing solely it is pointed out, to the application of T.T.D. in its capacity of an unbinding agent to the ADOS. (see para 3) and it is requested that Bifurcators together with necessary Mod stores are handed into M.E. in strict order of priority as laid down in para 5 (below). That is to say the branch suffering most seriously from Bull droppings and sticking digits (no connection with sticking valves which is a separate firm under entirely new management) will hand in their bifurcators first.
The following priority is suggested:-

1. Q

2. A As Bifurcators were not

3. G issued to O.S. & M.E.

4. S & T due to the fact they were

5. MED not considered necessary

6. SIGS they are not included on

7. ENGINEERS the priority list

8. PROVOST

9. LABOUR I. MUCKEMUPP

10. WELFARE Capt I.T.A.

11. P.P.M.C. (O – 5 times daily) for Lt. Col A.D. M.E.

12. ODDS & SODS (AD VALORUM)

13. OLD UNCLE TOM COBLEY & ALL

Motto: Nihil Illigitimo Carborundum.

25 Jun ‘45

Minute Sheet No XVII

DCOS ARAKAN

It is understood that you are interested in the adoption of T.T.D. with particular reference to its use for:-
Preventing burrowing beetles breaking ballies bearing best copper communicators
Dispersing the somnolent atmosphere at present so noticeably prevalent in CHITTAGONG telephone exchanges and replacing it by one of brisk, obliging efficiency.
If our infm. Is correct it would be greatly appreciated if you could attend the meeting which has been suggested in para 1 of minute 25 and which the other interested parties have agreed to attend, when we should be most interested to hear your views.

G Branch P.W. Daniell Maj

25 Jun 45 for Lt. Col. GS

Minute Sheet XVIII

“G.”

It is suggested that the moral aspect of the uses of T.T.D. have been not fully considered. It is for this reason that the extermination of the bally burrowing beetle, either the Hop & Skip species or the Quack variety, by T.T.D. should be proceeded with, very cautiously.
Moral effect on Signals It may not be fully realised that 99.35% of Signal personnel in the Arakan are employed solely on the maintenance of ballies. Should these men be thrown out of work or even offered jobs in H.Q. Offices, it is felt that the moral of Signals would be seriously impaired. This is likely to be reflected throughout the Army in India and indeed throughout the Empire.
Moral effect on Staff Officers. Another serious disadvantage might well be that communications would be such that it would be possible to use the telephone on one’s office desk for talking to someone other than the exchange. That someone might also ring one up when least expected. This is considered foul play, a cads trick and not in the best interests of moral.
Your solicitude regarding our attempts to give brighter and better telephone service is appreciated.

Upon investigation in District & Skip Exchanges the following interesting discovery was made. Someone was already feeding these girls with T.T.D.!!

The girls, when questioned replied that two staff-officers (majors) were responsible. With true G.S. thoroughness however these officers had doubled the usual dose with the result that the girls are in a permanent state of stupor, trying in vain to recapture their lost vitality and vigour.

Far be it from this office to cast aspersions on the General Staff but it has been suggested that the T.T.D. has been administered to these unfortunate girls with an ulterior motive. This we can assure you is totally unnecessary. Anything that is required may be had, like all local and trunk calls, “ON DEMAND”.

I will be only too pleased to attend this meeting as requested in minutes 34, para 2. R.U. Thru

Col

R. Sigs.

D.C.S.O.

(R.U. THRU)

/CS.

Extract from BAULI BAZAAR TRIBUNE of 19 Jun 45 36A

36A

EXTRACT FROM THE BAWLI BAZAR

TRIBUNE 19 JUNE 45.

STORMY MEETING OF

EXECUTIVE ASSEMBLY

SUBMISSION OF ARMY ESTIMATES

(By our special correspondent)

Under the Chairmanship of that charming leader of Indian affairs, Sir RAMATOOLE UPABHOY, the sittings of the working committee of the Executive Assembly were continued yesterday. The Army estimates for the six months ending Dec. 45 were under consideration and arguments of considerable heat were produced over the subject of the new insecticide T.T.D. Rai Bahadur BHAGGA RAM said that while he agreed in principle that troops especially on the Burma front should have every possible amenity that could be provided, he did not entirely agree with Khan Bahadur Fakar’s Khan’s statement that this product was used entirely as an insecticide, and should be passed on these grounds alone. He had, he said, heard from many serving men that far better uses or abuses of the product had been discovered by men on active service. For example he said, to his certain knowledge it had been used for purposes as widely divergent as desire inhibitors, (cries of Shame, Retract etc.) and substitutes for alcohol. (further disturbance). Rising to the occasion with an air of dignity Mr. C.R. BITSA NONSENCE said that he did not feel that the time was opportune to expose the services dirty washing to the public gaze. The sitting was then suspended for a session to be held “in camera”.

Letter from HQ 404 L of C Area to Lt. Col R.C. TARSY. 37A

37A

HQ 404 L of C Area

SEAC

Lt. Col. R.C. Tarsy

By favour of Capt. Butlin

Sir,

The Officers of these HQs, who have for long known you through the unsatisfactory medium of letters, would be glad if you could see your way (the full moon should help) to make a closer acquaintance by personal contact & honour C Mess with your presence on Monday next 2^nd July.

What we trust will prove a pleasurable evening has been planned in anticipation of your acceptance. It is proposed to make use of the opportunity, presented by your presence, quickly to run through the correspondence arising out of your outstanding discovery, TTD, but it is not thought that this should occupy more than four or five hours. A cold collation of preserved, or tinned beef, with garnishings of potatoes will follow & a brief musical programme, which, it is feared, will include renditions by May Jones of some Mendelssohn’s Songs without music, will be followed by a session of liar dice, strip poker, baccarat & spelling bees.

You are requested to come unarmed or we, for our part, shall observe strictly the rules laid down at the Geneva Conference.

Orders & decorations will be worn. Carriages & ambulances at 04.00 hrs.

We remain, Sirs,

Yours very sincerely

Letter from Col. R.C. TARSY to Capt. W.H. Butlin 38

38A

NO XYZ/10/-

No 1 Special Insectological Research Depot

S.E.A.C.

Forwarded for info & action ref last Para & 1^st P.S.

28 Jun 45 W.A. Butlin Capt.

Dear Butlin,

Thank you for the letter with your HQ’s suggestion that a meeting should be held at which I should be present.

I expect you will agree with me when I say “And about bloody well time too!”

It is extremely inconvenient for me to attend next Monday as I am at present working on an experiment which if successful will not only revolutionise the whole field of insectology but will probably also cause revolutions in the Army. I refer, of course, to my new gas for the Euthanasia of Redundant Staff Officers; however before I can proceed with this experiment I have to receive the permission of the General Staff as the next stage is a practical demonstration.

In these circumstances I will attend as requested. You will, of course, as my legal advisor & junior partner in the firm of Messrs Tort & Malfeasance my solicitors be present with me.

Kindly arrange for a separate table (out of earshot of the rest of the meeting – y’ know what I mean where we can talk without being overheard) to be allotted to us together with two chairs.

Yours sincerely

Rudolph C. Tarsy

P.S. The Chairman should be advised that at that time of day I only drink beer. You, I presume, will do the same.

P.P.S. Note my second upgrading & my new rank. My red tabs ought to shake ‘em what?

Top Secret.

2CG₂ + 3TF + SP + 2H₂O CG₂SP₁TF₂ + CGO₃ + TFH₂ + H₂O = K₉P

First mix CG₂ & TF at a temp of 40 with water adding TF & SP after one hour.

Allow sediment to settle, decant clear liquid and bring to boiling point; distil in inverted retort, allow to cool and keep in sealed bottles in a cool place.

The CGO₃SP₁ & TF₂ is the insecticide element, the CGO₂, TF gives it the aromatic and exhilarating feature.

Feb 45 Lt. Col.

NOTE.

I first discovered the deadly properties of K₉P when experimenting one night at the “Narki-hoo” “Night Club” in 1938 but there I used CG₂ & JJ where I now use CG₂ &TF.

I discovered on coming to India that the former were difficult to get and the latter were even deadlier.

R.C.T.

39A

Minutes of Meeting of TTD Committee held at “C” Mess HQ 404 L of C Area ay 20.00 hrs on Mon 2 July 45, for the purpose of:-

Meeting Col. R.C. Tarsy
Hearing any proposals by Col. R.C. Tarsy
Considering adoption of TTD in place of DDT
Declaring a dividend (if any)
Any other business

In the Chair:- Maj A. Carey R.W.K. (late of 8^th Army, S.C. Quetta etc etc, Holder of Burma Star, A Mess Dart Throwing Championship etc etc)

Present:- Reps all Services HQ 404 L of C Area

Secy:- Capt J.A. Kemp

Col. R.C. Tarsy was supported by Capt Butlin (Legal Advisor) & Capt Peachey (Financial Adviser)

The Chairman opened the meeting by thanking Col Tarsy for his attendance and then called upon the Secy to read telegrams of congratulation and regret received.

The Secy then read the following messages:-

Sorry unable to be present. With you in spirit. Thanks for all your help. Eisenhower

Good luck. Claim credit for TTD due to French scientists but vive la Tarsy. Glad you able to share in small way France’s glorious victory over the foe. De Gaule

Feel you are on eve of great new epoch medical history. Go to it. President British Medical Council.

Meet me Officer’s Club 9-30 Saturday Gladys.

(Possibly included in error by Chairman)

Will back TTD for support coming election, Atlee

TTD a cert in all Govt Depts if you use your influence coming election, Winston

CAATO to —–

Copy to ‘C’ Mess

1 WAS(B) & 1 Officer escort flying CTG (.) Calcutta with 1 rpt 1 ton TTD anti-louse powder (.) regret report Officer died en route.

My thoughts with you. Don’t overlook mobile canteens in use of TTD.

Lang c/o WAS(B) HQs Simla.

The Chairman then called upon Col Tarsy to speak.

Capt Butlin, speaking for the Col (who seemed disinclined to talk) said the Col didn’t care a hoot whether 404 adopted TTD or not. He had other irons in the fire and had good offers from Selfridges, Harrods, the Zoo etc and was simply open to take the highest offers.

The Chairman; That’s OK but what are your claims for TTD?

Butlin: The best effect is an increase in efficiency in every dept of 404 and in every function of 404’s staff.

The question of price had not yet been considered. The Col attached great importance to this. He was prepared to disclose the formula in confidence to prove that it was not a cheap mixture. He was now prepared to answer any questions.

Chairman; I propose to let each Service speak for itself.

O.S. : May we have the formula written on the blackboard?

(Butlin expressed willingness to do this but as no chalk could be found the project was abandoned)

Chairman: I now call upon Med to give their views on TTD.

Med: We deplore the fact that we have not the formula.

Butlin: I will read it again.

2CG₂ + 3TF +SP + 2H₂O – CG₂SP₁TF₂ + CGO₃ + TFH₂ +H₂O = K₉P

Med: Thank you. That clears the matter up. TTD is easily portable and readily spread on bed clothes etc but as it is diluted with thin oil may base designs and maps of Australia on sheets. Undoubtedly it corrodes glass. It is normally issued in small rubber bags. (One was produced and greeted by roars of unexplained laughter). It is poisonous to some and on others has surprising effect on the loins. Med would be glad to undertake distribution.

Chairman: Answer the question; Do you not advocate use of TTD?

Med: Undoubtedly.

Chairman: Med had said they will supply it but I think S & T should have a say about that.

S & T: Can be supplied by S & T. we suggest TTD pipe line. Col Pimple Bottom would speak on that aspect, meanwhile the speaker could vouch from personal experience that one sniff of TTD was the equivalent of three treble brandies. His girl friend was so impressed by the smell of TTD on his breath she thought it prudent at once to leave his Basha.

Butlin: That was nothing to the smell of his balls.

‘G’: (interjecting) What was a girl doing in his Basha anyway?

S & T: (ignoring interruption) Not only would S & T supply TTD – they urge its adoption on a large scale – say, one ounce per man per day to commence.

Maj. Jones: No! 3 ozs per man per day per issue.

‘G’: Is it an aphrodisiac?

S & T: Yes.

‘G’: Then QAS & VAD should have double issues.

S & T: We will issue if Q sanction.

Chairman: Had TTD been used the Dohazari bridge would probably be still standing now. Killing the torado beetles and all the rest of it.

Butlin: Had TTD been used Dohazari bridge would not only be still standing but bigger and better!

S & T: And stronger!

‘G’: And wider!

Chairman: Now Ordnance: let’s hear from you.

O.S.: TTD is an OS matter. It is diffused in a thin oil.

S & T: (interrupting) I suggest Col Brewester is already thinly oiled.

(Cries of ‘Order’)

O.S.: Down draught bifercators are essential for its dissemination. We have them; can modify them for spraying TTD in thin oil. It has been suggested that it might be conveyed in small rubber bags. O.S. disagreed and produced a rubber bag of a larger size. (uproar)

O.S.: It has been suggested that K₉P was very expensive. This was inexplainable. It was to be seen on every tree and lamppost.

Butlin: Agreed. But consider cost of collection and extraction from lampposts.

(A heated debate then took place among all present. When Chairman had restored order he called upon Sigs to explain effect of TTD on his Branch).

Sigs: I cannot say What effect TTD would have on communications?

O.S.: Would it restore Pahartali Exchange to life?

(No reply)

A; Would it make District more man minded?

(Disorder)

Chairman: Sit down.

ME: Is it known that TTD has similar effects on opposite sex?

S & T: Yes. – 3 months experiments have proved this.

Chairman: We must press on. I now call on G. is TTD controlled store?

G: We are 100% in favour adoption TTD if financial benefits occur. Suggest we hear from financial adviser on the subject.

Chairman; Discipline is a fine thing though absent from this meeting. Let us hear what A has to say on disciplinary aspect.

‘A’ rose to be greeted by a chorus “Why was he born so beautiful?”

‘A’: One question – Does it fill pencils?

‘G’: Who have you got to write to?

‘A’: Will it make Officers defer?

S & T: Not bloody likely.

‘A’: What are financial aspects?

Med: Suggest deferment should be for nine months from date of issue.

Chairman: We have now covered all points except finance.

(Cheers)

F.A.: I am glad to sense a feeling of readiness in this meeting to adopt TTD. I feel all present are prepared to accept cash. Here is a chance to get rich quick. It is not only a boon to mankind but will fill your pockets. You are lucky to be here tonight. It is proposed to form a Ltd. Coy. With a capital of £1 million. £7,000,000 in cash would be paid to Col Tarsy for patent rights and goodwill. Net profit in first year estimated at £300,000, which should provide 20 per cent to share holders.

(Confusion. Many Officers present tried to force ready cash on the F.A.)

Chairman: Thank you F.A. Now let us have a practical demonstration of the powers of TTD.

A strong concentration of TTD was then sprayed over the meeting.

The effect was such that the further taking of minutes seemed to the Secy a matter of extreme unimportance. This record is not therefore wholly complete. When Secy regained full consciousness he found himself in embrace of two committee members and surrounded by a cheering crowd clamouring for adoption forthwith of TTD.

No vote of thanks to the Chairman ended the proceedings.

Major P.C. Benham

Jul1

G Branch

HQ I Corps District

B.L.A..

Sunday 1 July 45

My dearest Maz,

I was so delighted during the week to get your two most interesting letters of the 22^nd and 26^th and to hear of all your various doings. The party at the Airies, the wedding and your day at the Naze. I gather that the wedding was not absolutely a 100% success – I should have thought they could have done better than one bottle of gin. Also the parents seem to have been a trifle odd, what bad luck their arriving at half time. It must have been lovely at the Naze on Sunday and I’m sure it did you a lot of good. I have very little of interest to report this week – it has been a strenuous one as I had expected with Tim Roberts away but he got back last night so I’m hoping now that the pressure will ease off a bit. My only two items of social interest were Wednesday evening and last night. On Wednesday I had dinner with Edward Rice who has now left us to go back to a job in England the lucky chap, and he and I went along afterwards to see a film called ‘Irish Eyes are Smiling’ – the cinema here is a very comfortable one and there is plenty of room – no civilians of course. The plan wasn’t too bad good light entertainment and a refreshing change. Last night was a guest night in the mess. I invited Jim Harries, recently joined as a G2 Ops in place of John Roberts who will not be coming back and after dinner I played my first game of cards for many months. We played 21 from about 10 until 1.30 this morning and it was a very enjoyable game. No one won or lost much and a good quantity of Rhine wine was consumed. My final score was +5 marks (2/6) which might have been worse. My total contribution to the war effort today will be a smart walk up to the barracks before lunch mainly to see whether there is any mail. I didn’t get up until nearly 10 this morning, Charles and I having our breakfast in bed! This afternoon I shall go for a short walk and shall do various odd jobs between tea and dinner then early to bed. My leave is now practically fixed and unless something terrible happens I hope to arrive in England on the 25^th – I don’t think the Harwich route is open yet – that is the Hook to Harwich but one gets 11 days in England now counting the day you land and the day you have to return. Only just over 3 weeks to go – what a super thought, isn’t it? It already seems ages since those wonderful days only just over a fortnight ago. The time goes fairly quickly here but I simply loathe and detest Germany – the news on demobbing doesn’t seem too good and the general consensus of opinion is that the 24s and 25s won’t be out until March or so – a very depressing thought as one seems to be wasting such a lot of time out here – the work and there is plenty of it is not in the slightest bit interesting, one feels more than ever the impatience and desire to get down to ones normal job and to settle down to a life one can hardly seem to remember – a life which will never be like the pre-war years but one when at least you can call your soul your own. Thank you so much, Maz dear, for all the trouble you are taking about a flat for us – it is very worrying but something, thanks to your efforts will turn up. I’m certain of that, but I do hope it has turned up by the time Eileen is released as she will be kept busy, and pleasantly so, until my turn comes. I must away now, and go up to the barracks. Much love to you and God bless, my love to you Pari and Elli.

Yours as ever

very affectionately

Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 2 JY 45. Passed by censor No 15487 and signed P.C. Benham.

On front of envelope Written July 1^st 1945 rec July 4^th 1945. (24)

July 1945

Jul1

(Occupied Europe)

Following to the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945 two countries declared war on Japan. The first was the liberated German occupied Norway on the 6^th July 1945. The second was the Italian government, previously an ally to Germany on the 14^th July 1945.

(Pacific)

When the Japanese occupied the Philippine Islands in early 1942, American General Douglas MacArthur was ordered to evacuate to Australia. Upon leaving he vowed to return and liberate the islands. On the 20^th October 1944 he landed on Leyte Island and he commented “I have returned”. Accompanying this event was the famous photograph of MacArther wading ashore. Ending one of the worst military disasters in American history, U.S. troops recaptured the islands, and MacArthur declared the Philippines liberated on the 5^th July 1945.

Beginning in November 1944 Mariana based USAAF B-29 bombers and P-51 Mustang fighters conducted a series of periodical attacks on Tokyo. On the 4th, 5th & 6th July 1945 P-51s taking off from newly liberated airfields on Iwo Jima, attacked airfields in and around Tokyo destroying many enemy aircraft on the ground.Unconfirmed reports of enemy destruction range between 20 to 60 aircraft. During the course of the three raids one U.S. P -51 Mustang was lost. Aircraft from the U.S. Navy carrier fleet attacked Tokyo airfields and surrounding targets on the 10^th & 17^th July 1945. Over 140 P-51s flew from their airfields at Iwo Jima on the 28^th July 1945 and hit various airfields and military targets. The bombing on Tokyo continued until the end of the Pacific war in August 1945.

~~24^th – Bombing of Kure by U.K and USA~~The Japanese heavy battlecruiser Haruna had fought in almost every major action in the Pacific. In February 1945 she was assigned to the Kure Naval District and moored at the naval base. To destroy the last remnants of the Japanese navy, on the 24^th July 1945, the U.S. Task Force 38 began a series of aerial attacks on the Kure Naval Base. On the 28^th July 1945 Haruna was hit by eight bombs and sank at her moorings in the late afternoon.

USS Indianapolis was a heavy cruiser of the American Fifth Fleet and participated in numerous battles across the Central Pacific. From 1943 Indianapolis was flagship to the Fifth Fleet. On the 31^st March 1945 the fleet were bombarding Okinawa and being constantly attacked by Japanese fighter aircraft. Indianapolis sustained considerable damage when an enemy fighter dropped a bomb from a height of 25 ft. directly on the cruiser. After temporary repairs, although still damaged, she steamed under her own power to Mare Island for major repairs. She was then despatched to San Francisco Naval base for an overhaul. On the 16^th July 1945, following the repairs and overhaul, Indianapolis received orders to undertake a secret mission. Her mission was to transport the components for the atomic bombs to Tinian Island. She set a speed record from San Francisco, via Pearl Harbour to deliver the bomb components on Tinian Island by the 26^th July 1945. After her stop at Tinian Island she continued enroute to Guam. On the 30^th July 1945 she was struck by two torpedoes fired from Japanese submarine L-58. Within twelve minutes Indianapolis sank and of nearly 1,200 crewmen approximately 300 went down with the cruiser. With too few lifeboats and many without life jackets the remainder of the crew were adrift in shark infested waters. Poor communications meant rescue attempts did not begin until early August 1945.

Kobe was the sixth largest city in Japan and had the largest port. It was also home to the largest concentration of shipbuilding and marine engine manufacturing in the country. The Bombing of Kove was part of the strategic bombing campaign on Japan beginning in March 1945. A further four more raids were conducted against Kobe until the 19^th July 1945 when 27 B-29 bombers dropped several naval mines in the Kobe area and surrounding waters. On the 30^th July 1945 P-51 fighters attacked airfields, railways and other significant targets throughout the Kobe/Osaka region, which turned out to be the last attack on Kobe.

~~28^th – Jap battleships Haruna and Ise sunk~~

~~30^th – USS Indianapolis sunk by Jap submarine~~

~~31^st – U.S. air attacks on Kobe and Nagoya~~

July bombing raids on oil fields in Osaka

~~(Other Theatres)~~

In Europe following the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945, two countries declared war on Japan. With the surrender of Germany, the first declaration was by Norway on the 6^th July 1945. Norway’s original plans were to remain neutral during the war but Nazi Germany attacked and occupied the country in April 1940. Norwegian king Haakon VII and the pre-war government escaped to London and a government in exile was formed. During the German occupied period a pro-German puppet government collaborated with the Germans. The second declaration was by Italy on the 14^th July 1945, who was previously allied to Germany before seeking an armistice with the Allies,

16^th – U.S. conduct Trinity Test at Alamogordo, New Mexico (See Trinity (nuclear test) wiki)

(Other Theatres)

~~17^th – Potsdam Conference begins }~~

In America, as part of the Manhattan Project, the first detonation of a nuclear weapon called Trinity was conducted in New Mexico at the Alamogordo Test Range. Beginning in 1942 the Manhattan Project was a research and development programme designated into finding a new source of energy following the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938. The military’s ultimate aim for Trinity was for producing a nuclear weapon ahead of a similar project from Germany before the unconditional surrender. The first detonation of the atomic bomb Trinity was on the 16^th July 1945.

The Potsdam Conference was held In the Soviet zone of occupation and began on the 17^th July 1945. Representing the Soviet Union was General Secretary Joseph Stalin. The United Kingdom was represented by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the U.S. by President Harry S. Truman. The administration of defeated Germany was the major topic on the agenda and countering the effects of the war. Truman became increasingly suspicious of the Soviets intentions when he realised Stalin’s actions in Eastern Europe was seen as aggressive expansionism.

During the conference Truman mentioned to Stalin of an unspecified “powerful new weapon but Stalin’s spy network had already informed him of the atomic bomb test. On the 26^th July 1945, the Potsdam Declaration gave an ultimatum to Japan for an unconditional surrender or meet with prompt destruction, but did not mention the new bomb. The Japanese did not respond to the ultimatum.

In Briain during the European war years Churchill was prime minister and Clement Attlee was deputy prime minister in a coalition government. Both Churchill and Attlee were prepared to maintain a coalition government until after the Japanese had been defeated in the Pacific. Churchill was forced to resign and call a general election after Herbert Morrison, Labour’s coalition Home Secretary had objected. Ironically it was Churchill who had appointed Morrison as Home Secretary. The result of the general election was announced on the 26^th July 1945 and Attlee as the new prime minster flew to Potsdam to represent Briain during the conference. The Potsdam Conference continued into e

~~26^th – Atlee replaces Churchill as Prime Minister in general election } (See Clement Attlee Wiki)~~

In Britain, during the European war Churchill was prime minister and Clement Attlee was his deputy in a coalition government. Churchill was a member of the Conservative party and Attlee was a Labour party member. Both Churchill and Attlee were prepared to maintain a coalition government until the Japanese were defeated in the Pacific. Churchill was forced to resign and call a general election after Herbert Morrison, Labour’s Home Secretary had objected to the continuation of the coalition government, Ironically, it was Churchill who had appointed Morrison as Home Secretary. The election was held on the 26^th July 1945 and Attlee was duly elected as the new prime minister. The newly elected Labour party inherited a country facing bankruptcy, owing to the lend/lease agreement with the USA. ~~They also had the herculean~~ ~~task of overcoming food, housing and resource shortages.~~

—

26^th – Atlee flies to Potsdam }

~~26^th – Potsdam Declaration issued~~ arly August 1945. However, the newly elected Labour government inherited a country close to bankruptcy and had the herculean task of overcoming food, housing and resources shortages. }~~———————————————————————————————————————~~

The Potsdam Declaration was issued on the 26^th July 1945.

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SECOND WORLD WAR

~~June 1945~~

(Europe)

At the Yalta Conference in February 1945 Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union discussed the occupation of post war Germany. However, the French were not involved in the Yalta Conference. On the 5^th June 1945 the Allies, which now included France, agreed to occupy and administer four separate areas of Germany. Britain occupied northern Germany, the United States occupied the south, France occupied the extreme south-west and the Soviet Union occupied eastern Germany.

Berlin, as the nation’s capital, although in the Soviet Union sector, was also divided into four zones, as per the rest of the country (microcosm of Germany). The occupation ensured that the Nazi Party was sought out and brought to justice, it also ensured an equivalent Nazi type organisation would not be in a position to begin hostilities again. This coupled with the fact that roughly 80% of German infrastructure was in need of repair or reconstruction.

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~~Ameland and Schiermonnikoog are two Dutch islands in the Waddell Sea. The Germans surrendered on the~~ ~~3^rd~~ ~~and~~ ~~11^th June 1945~~ ~~respectively. The latter was last part of Europe liberated by Allied troops after the Germans surrendered.~~

One of the first challenges facing the British government was the demobilisation of the British Armed Forces back into civilian life. Prior to the end of the European War plans had been implemented for the demobilisation of the armed forces regarding procedures. Age and time spent in uniform determined when most servicemen and servicewomen were released from the armed forces. Priority was given to men aged fifty or more and married women. A small number of so-called “Key workers”, whose occupational skills were vital for postwar reconstruction, were also released ahead of their allotted time. Each serviceman or woman being demobilised passed through a special demobilisation centre. Demobilised servicemen received a one-off grant payment and the promise for the right to return to their old jobs. They also received a set of civilian clothing which included the so-called “Demob Suit”. The demobilisation process was slow because of the numbers involved, with approximately 4.3 million men and women returning to “civvy street” by 1947. Returning to civilian life servicemen and women found conditions to be extremely bad. In the six years of war the home front had endured bombardment and blockades resulting in shortages of many basic essentials. One of the biggest challenges, after many years apart, was that husbands and wives had to adjust to living together again.

(Pacific

The first stage of the Borneo Campaign was the capture of the Tarakan Island on the 15^th June 1945. An amphibious landing on south-west Tarakan on the 1^st May 1945 was launched by Australian troops and a small Netherlands East Indies contingent. Opposing the attack the Japanese defence for the island consisted of approximately 2,200 men from the Imperial Japanese Army and Japanese Imperial Navy. Prior to the Japanese occupation in January 1941, Tarakan formed part of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Tarakan supplied the Japanese with oil from the islands two oil fields. During the course of 1942 Allied bombing destroyed the oil production and storage facilities. The Allies main aim for attacking Tarakan was to capture and develop the airfields, and ultimately restore the oil fields. Tarakan’s heavily forested hills needed to be cleared before the Allies could secure the island and protect the airfield. Approximately 1,700 Japanese defenders were dug into positions protected by minefields and booby traps. Australian tanks offered little support to the infantry assault owing to the thick jungle, swamps and steep hills. They did, however, provide supporting fire but air cover and artillery provided the majority of the supporting fire. On the 12^th May 1945 Australian troops were slowly advancing when they were held up by three well positioned machine gun posts. Australian corporal John Mackey led his men to attack one machine gun post. He took out the post with a grenade. Moving on to a second post he killed two members of the gun crew when he was killed by machine gun fire. For this brave action he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. On the 16^th May 1945 Australian troops had reached the eastern coast of the island. The same day the NEI had captured the remainder of the southern end of the island meeting very little resistance. However, the Japanese garrison was gradually destroyed and the island was declared secure on the 21^st June 1945. It took the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)J engineers eight weeks to restore the damaged airfields to a usable state while the infantry was fighting the Japanese in the hills. The airfields were finally opened on the 28^th June 1945. Serious damage to Tarakan’s oilfields delayed production, but on the 27^th June 1945 the first oil pump was restored. Tarakan’s oilfields did not become fully operational until after the end of the war.

The island of Borneo, before the Second World War, was divided between British Borneo in the north and Dutch Borneo in the south. Both countries were in Borneo to assist in developing the oilfields. The Japanese invaded and occupied the island in late1941/early 1942. The Battle of North Borneo began on the 10^th June 1945 when Australian troops were involved in a series of amphibious landings around Brunei Bay. Initially Japanese opposition was light, but the time Brunei was captured on the 15^th June 1945 Japanese resistance had been reinforced. Both sides suffered heavy casualties in the resulting battle. The Borneo Campaign ended in August 1945.

On the 15^th June 1945, Japan’s second largest city of Osaka was bombed for the fourth time in the month. 300,000 houses were destroyed when 444 B-29’s bombed 2.9 sq. miles (4.9 km²) of the city. On this raid the city suffered the heaviest destruction. Further bombing raids on Osaka continued until the end of the war in August 1945.

The island of Okinawa was invaded by the United States Army and United States Marine Corps on the 1^st April 1945. The 82-day battle ended on the 21^st June 1945 when the last remnants of the retreating Japanese resistance ceased on Southern Okinawa. On the 22^nd June 1945, to mark the end of organised resistance on Okinawa, a flag raising ceremony was held. The Battle of Okinawa was the last major battle in the Pacific, and most probably the bloodiest. The Japanese suffered casualties of over 100,000 in total including many military suicides. The Allies suffered approximately 80,000 casualties in total. The civilian population of Okinawa, who were still in residence during the fighting, suffered 40,000 to 150,000 casualties. Actual casualty figures cannot be confirmed.

~~(Other Theatres)~~

In California, USA, representatives of 50 countries signed the United Nations Charter (UNC) on the 26^th June 1945. The concept of the UNC was to unite the countries into providing the same effort against the common enemy, in peacetime as they did during the war years, to prevent another conflict. Plans had been evolving since 1943. After the Yalta Conference in February1945 all proposals were agreed for world peace protection. At the Yalta Conference were Churchill (UK), Roosevelt (USA) and Stalin (USSR). Invitations were sent out to all the countries involved on the 5^th March 1945. Poland was in the process of forming a new government and signed later and in doing so became the 51^st member of the United Nations. As Roosevelt had died before the UNC was signed, his replacement President Harry Trueman endorsed America’s willingness to sign.

The Bay Museum & Research Facility

Category Archives: July 1945

A WARTIME LOG

The Retreat of Stalag 7 from “JOE”

Letter from Peter C. Benham to his mother.

Letter from Peter C. Benham to his mother.

Letter from Peter C. Benham to his mother.

Letter from Peter C. Benham to his mother.

Minute Sheet No. I

Major P.C. Benham

July 1945

July bombing raids on oil fields in Osaka

16^th – U.S. conduct Trinity Test at Alamogordo, New Mexico (See Trinity (nuclear test) wiki)

SECOND WORLD WAR

(Europe)

(Pacific

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July bombing raids on oil fields in Osaka

16th – U.S. conduct Trinity Test at Alamogordo, New Mexico (See Trinity (nuclear test) wiki)

SECOND WORLD WAR

(Europe)

(Pacific

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16^th – U.S. conduct Trinity Test at Alamogordo, New Mexico (See Trinity (nuclear test) wiki)