Diary of David Taylor Galt - 461 Squadron - Part 4

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messenger from the
xxxxx  at SAN SEBASTIAN
came around in the
morning and conveyed
to me that I was to leave
with him immediately.
He took me around to
the house of the xxxxxx
where I met two other
men who were going to
MADRID by car and they
took me with them.
We stopped and had
a really excellent lunch
at a Hotel in VITTORIA, and
afterwards at about 1900 hrs
a cup of coffee at a
xxxxxxx After leaving there
were ran into a patch of
low cloud which made
visibility impossible so we
had to crawl along at
walking pace for 3.-4 Kms.
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After we came through it
we did not strike any
more but it made us
very late at MADRID.
We arrived at the British
Embassy at 2315 hrs. and
after a few minutes I
was taken around to the
house of W/Cmdr xxxxxx. He
said he had expected me.
the night before. This evening
he had a small dinner
party. I was feeling
particularly scruffy but
naturally I could do
nothing about that at the
time. Anyway everyone was
very charming and I had
quite a pleasant evening
and afterwards a very
comfortable bed. The next
morning I was taken around
to the xxxxx  where I met
 

61
a few more R.A.F. lads
They left a few days later
and I was on my own for
5 days until some more came.
On Christmas Day I was
invited around to the house
of Mr &. Mrs xxxxxx who are
both Australians and from
VICTORIA. It was a very
pleasant party that we had
there. When I arrived back
at the xxxxxx some of the
lads there had had a little
too much to drink and
had made a bit of a
mess. As I was senior in
rank I was considered to
be in charge and so I asked
those responsible to clean up
the mess, which they did and
I thought that would be
the finish of the matter,
but afterwards I learned
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that the picture show and
buffet supper arranged for
us for Boxing Day had been
cancelled and the next day
Brigadier Torr sent for me
and made a few objectionable
remarks about the lads there
and threatened to send them
to MIRANDA or somewhere
if he got the slightest excuse.
I took an instant dislike
to him. He is the personification
of all I dislike in the
English Army Officer. That
was my worst and most
unpleasant expierence of
the whole show. On 30^th Dec
Sgt. Mc xxxxx and I were taken
in a car with a Polish
Colonel to xxxxxx. When we
arrived there I was taken up
to the xxxxxxx while
the Sgt and the Colonel waited
 

64
in the car. While waiting,
the Colonel was very foolish
and indescreet. He insisted on
getting out of the car and
inspecting the interior of a
nearby cathedral. to the
intense annoyance of the
xxxxxx. However we
were fortunate and the affair
passed over without any
complications. Sgt Mc xxxxx
and I were taken around
to the house of an Englishman
where after a very good
dinner we had an interesting
conversation and then
went to bed. Next morning
after having breakfast in bed
a man came in a taxi and
took us near the docks.
We got out of the taxi here
and walked thru the gates
with another man, a
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Spaniard. We went aboard
the S.S. RAVENSPORT and xxxxx
remained in the chart room
until early next morning
when the five of us were
taken down to the engine-room.
We had to hide in
the xxxxxxxx
while the ship was being
searched by the customs
official (a real greasy lot)
and then we remained in
the engine room for another
xx hours, when we were able
to go anywhere on the ship.
It was not a very big ship
only 1500 tons.
On the morning of 2nd Jan
we moved down the river
at an aggravatingly slow
pace and reached
Gibralter the next morning
An RAF launch came
 

65
alongside and after
being interviewed by an
army sergeant we were
taken ashore where we
had more interviews.
Incidently Captain xxxxx
of the SS. xxxxxxxx is
a real decent scout and
did his best for us. I
was issued with an
RAF battle dress at
New Camp and slept
there that night (3rd Jan)
The next night I went
out to a Catalina with
the crew to fly to M.B.
but this was cancelled
before we got off. After
standing by each of
the other nights we
eventually got off on
6^th Jan and arrived a
MB. at 1100 hrs on 7^th Jan
66
after an uneventful
flight.
Early in February I learned
that 1st. Gordon Given was at
Stallag luft and afterwards that
Fred, Graham and Cliff had
been captured also.
Early in March I received a note
from Air Ministry telling me that
Tex and Tommy were interned in
Spain and a few days later I
received a cable telling me
they were at Gibralter and
would soon be back in this
country.
Also on Mar 16^th I had a
letter from Guy & Rene. They
are interned in Spain at
Miranda.
 

contd.
9 .That the packet of
tablets in the escape outfit
be put in something stronger
than paper envelopes.. The
paper tears in the pocket
very quickly and the tablets
soon break up.
contd.
5 methods of evading
capture & making contact
with the organisation
(if any) in France
6. That more opportunities
be provided for aircrews
to learn a few useful
French phrases, e.g. There
is already an excellent
publication (R.A.F) for this
purpose, but it made may
not be taken out of
the "intelligence room", for
no apparent reason
7. That it be recommended
that a shirt and collar
and tie be worn under
the usual whit guernsey
8. The brown soft leather
flying boots in general
use are absolutely lousy
for walking, but are however
not to bad for mountaineering
 

Observations
1. I was successful in my
adventure because a I had
a tremendous amount of
good luck & b. I seized
upon & made the most of
every available opportunity.
2. That the dark blue of
the R.A.A.F. battle dress is a
more suitable colour than
the R.A.F. for mixing with
civilians in France 
3. Spanish pesettas are should also
to be included in the
issue packets of money
for ops.
4. That it be recommended
that the form 1250 be
carried to establish identity
in neutral countries viz. Spain.
5. That more intelligence
lectures be given on
[*PRO3274*]