Diary of George William Edward Clark, January 1941 - September 1942 - Part 6
ON TRAIN TO
GERMANY
YUGO SLAVIA
JUNE -1941
525 17 TUESDAY 50
Had a little sleep last night still on train! Travelled
a fair distance between 5.P.M and 10 P.M yesterday
also this morning. No more after 10 PM until 6 A.M.
no one knows how long we will be! Rations are getting
scarce! A small piece of bread for breakfast, biscuit
broken up with water for lunch. Have now nothing to
eat having eaten all my rations this P.M.
Believe we get more on THURSDAY. Another long
526 18 WEDNESDAY 51
wait yesterday afternoon. Travelling a lot during the
night and most of the morning. Very dull weather
foggy and rain. We may have passed Belgrade last
night!! Getting cold too! Not so many stops or so
long. Am getting hungry. 72hr on train tonight!
Should be getting close to Germany now! BELGRADE
2 P.M. stopped in marshalling yards. For long
time. Hope we get something to eat soon. Bread was
issued 5 P.M. 2/3 of a loaf per man for 48 hrs. Still in
marshalling yards!
ON TRAIN
1941 - JUNE
CROATIA
527 19 THURSDAY 52
Left yards at 6 P.M. with full belly & heavy rain
Turned on the pace during the night. Must have done
quite a few miles!!! A clear sky this morning! Getting
near to Austria I think, the people are different! A big
city ZAGREB-SAVA(KROAT)? very clean and tidy
About 21 miles to Austria! A beautiful trip, right alongside
a river with almost sheer green hills on both sides. Very
warm. Swastikas everywhere! water was scarce but better
now: Arr. Marburg 6.30 P.M. Big river: 2 bridges blown
up.
528 20 FRIDAY 53
Our 5th nights sleep: Left Marburg 10-30 P.M. train is
only ½ as long now! The other ½ gone? One could
still read a book at 9 P.M. last night! Got more
bread last night ¼ loaf per man. On a branch line
climbing! Now going down a green valley plenty
of timber mills around. Should have reached
destination about midday! God knows where!
Off train 2 P.M. short march to camp. A 'YOUTH
CAMP' as we thought! In tents for several
days until deloused! French here!
WOLFSBERG CAMP
JUNE -1941
AUSTRIA
529 21 SATURDAY 54
The longest day. Sun rises approx 5-15^30 A.M.
sets 8 ^8.30P.M. Had an issue last night 5 P.M. German
tea. 1/5 loaf bread and JAM!!! Tea had sugar in it!
Supposed to be reviellie at 7 A.M. but we
were given tea(!) at 6-30. The day is to start
at 8 A.M. De-lousing! and don't I need it
also a strict search! Am likely to lose this
diary. The Germans are very courteous &
kind. The doctor was in the tent at midnight
to see one chap! We got nothing to eat
until lunch time when the main meal of
the day probably potatoes & cabbage! Then bread
and jam and tea in the evening. The meal
was a full dixie of mashed spuds & saurkraut!
1/5 loaf of bread! was I full & Phew! Tea 4-30 P.M.
soup, of sausage, very good. Altogether
a very good day as far as food is concerned.
Should sleep well tonight
[* RUSSIA AT WAR AGAINST GERMANY*]
AUSTRIA
1941 JUNE
WOLFSBERG CAMP
My number is 849. 'convict 99' what!
530 22 SUNDAY 55
Well that's that! Have been thru' the 'grill'! Lost
my 2 'Ite' groundsheets & leather jerkin. Sent these
2 diaries over the fence and saved them. But may
have got them thru' because they never searched
my pockets! Rumor of Russia being at war with
Germany (what again!) Up at 5-30 Breakfast: Tea & jam
Lunch: Dixie full of mash potatoes & sauerkraut 1/5 loaf bread
1/10 tin of paste. Am now in huts on straw palliases!
531 23 MONDAY 56
Had a good sleep last night - Up at 5-30: Breakfast:
1 cup of tea & issue of jam! Which I had with bread
left over from yesterday. (2 slices) Lunch: Mashed
spuds with some meat in it: 1/5 loaf bread. Had
innoculation T.A.B. in left chest, German idea,
also photo taken for identification purposes!
On feet all afternoon in line up. Tea will
be next. Tea: Potatoe soup, I had some spud
over from lunch, so had fair meal. Walked
2 miles after tea.
JUNE -1941
532 24 TUESDAY 57
Slept like a log last night, up at 5-30. on parade 6.
Aust. N.Zs. + English seperated & counted. 99 Aust.
Split up into working parties: I am in No 1. working
party. 350 men to a party. May go on roads.-
Innoculation is a bit sore this morning. Usual
tea + jam in morning. Lunch: spuds mashed, 1/5
loaf bread. Ate the lot. We are very comfortable -
Tea: potatoe soup with crushed maize in it. very
good.
Am trying to learn German.
£37-6-10
533 25 WEDNESDAY 58
May move today or tomorrow! Had good sleep again.
Up at 5-15 parade 5-30 then morning tea or this
A.M. it was coffee & very nice too - also a liberal
issue of jam. Were told to pack ready to move
this day! Lunch 11-30: Spuds with meat, 1/5
loaf bread. Am full up. Rumor of us working
on power house! No move by tea time. Tea:
Potato soup with oatmeal, much thicker than yesterday
move put off until tomorrow. Rumor of ITALY
capitulating!!!
1941- JUNE AUSTRIA
WOLFSBERG CAMP
534 26 THURSDAY 59
Another good sleep last night. Up at 5-30 parade
5-45. Coffee again & jam Had some bread that I
got for ciggarette case! Prepare to move! Parade in
full gear 12-50. Lunch 11-30: Spuds + pickled cabbage
Rumors of us going to some power house job! Marched
out 2 PM. 1 loaf to 3 men 1 tin liver wurst to 5 men.
in trucks with seats 40 men & 2 guards. Lord
knows where to! Train left ∧camp 3 PM! 350 men.
Left Wolfsberg 4 PM. in ZELTWEG 7-30 changed
engine.
535 27 FRIDAY 60
Moving all night. God knows where we are! I
think it must be part of their plan to 'lose' us!
Passed a lake with high hills all round. Beautiful
scenery. Large hotel on opposite side 'GRAND HOTEL'
All winter sports! A lot of 'week enders' reminds me of
Ettalong! Stopped in yards of 'VILLACH' for long time!
Left VILLACH 4-15 arr. destination 5-30 marched
about 2 miles to camp: passed several other
camps on way. Had hot meal - cabbage, spuds, etc
OUR HOME FOR HOW LONG?
KRIESELDORF CAMP
JUNE 1941
536 28 SATURDAY 61
Only a small camp and we are going to be split up
into 4 groups: - this camp is great! 18 to 24 area.
men in one room may be less after split up.
Electric light, stove for heating, 2 berth bunks, 1
extra blankett. Will be hot + cold water soon.
Very new place! Had good sleep last night up at
6. Coffee at 6-30 and plenty of it! We got 1/2 loaf
bread per man last which has to last until the
next night (tonight). Lunch: a full dixie of
potatoes with meat and sauce. very filling!
They are sorting us out into groups today,
100 to a group. The odd 60 will stay here and
act as replacements for men who go sick, etc.
I am hoping to stay here with Reg. Wright and
Toby Florence who is interpreter. He may be able to
fix it!!! Yes I am staying in this camp with
a party of 100. Two parties of a 100 go tomorrow &
the odd 60 probably Monday. Bread + Saus.
for tea
1941-JUNE
SENT GERMAN CARD HOME
WITH ADDRESS.
537 29 SUNDAY 62
1/3 of a large loaf and a piece of sausage was issue for tea
last night. Up at 4-45, Coffee at 5. All on parade 6 with
gear! The 200 moved out & the 60 go tomorrow! We
are now settled in 14 to our room. A dull day after
heavy rain last night! A huge dinner of mashed
spud + meat(?) in fact too much for me! Peeling spuds
in afternoon! A wind getting up. 1/3 loaf of bread per
men-Tea: Spuds + cabbage. Cooked by Tommy, awful!
Sent RED CROSS card to mother.
30 MONDAY 63
538
We Parade at 9P.M. in front of barrack rooms for
check parade. Up at at 4-45 again, coffee 5-30,
on parade for work at 6-30 but only got put into groups
Changed beds and cleaned up room properly. Lunch: Spuds
& peas. An extra blanket per man. An inspection by
Kommandant at 3 P.M. The odd 60 have not moved
yet. The temperature is 12oF in Winter time & snow to
3 to 4 feet deep. brrr! Tea: Spuds & oatmeal, 1/3 loaf
big one. new time table starts tomorrow.
STALAG XVIII A/GERMANY
JULY 1941
539
1 July TUESDAY
Up at 5, coffee 5-30, parade for work 6-40, lunch
12, parade for work 1240, bread issue 6-30, tea 6-45,
check parade 9 P.M. lights out 10. Up and ∧as above! What
a day! Working pretty solid, too! 5hours before
lunch, only just over 1/2 hour for lunch. Not enough!
Another 5 hours in afternoon & 2 cigarettes! Finish
work at 6 Tea at 6-30 Spuds & something! 1/2
loaf bread. Lunch: spuds & Swedes. Very tired!
540 2 WEDNESDAY
Up at 5 A.M. Slept like a log! Plenty of coffee, HOT!
also some of last nights tea I had left over. cold. Started
work 7. Not as stiff as I thought I would be. A
cold morning, early. Warm towards midday.
Lunch: spuds + tomato pulp or something! A rush!
Afternoon got cold + windy, looked like rain, but
kept off luckily! Time is going quicker now.
Tea: Same as lunch. some cold coffee from this
morning. Spud barber after tea. Turned in 9 P.M.
1941- A 49/GW/2 JULY
541
3 THURSDAY
A fall of snow on the mountains last night. thats
why it was so cold here! Up at 5 . coffee 5-20 with
bread + some cold left over tea. Start work usual
time. Have a touch of indegestion (bad) Lunch:
spuds + calf meat, tasted like rabbit. Very nice.
Tea: Same as lunch with some macoroni.
Supposed to be 250 more coming in tomorrow.
Spud barber again. New spuds tomorrow, hurray!
542 4 FRIDAY
Slept like a log last night! Usual morning coffee +
bread. Left camp early (6-25) because another crowd
was coming. Had to change round & did shovel work
and pushing skips up hill! Lunch: spuds bust!
Afternoon simply dragged. Am I sore mainly my
legs thru pushing skip! It's too solid on this food.
Tea: spuds & cabbage. Not bad. We have another
150 here now. Total 250, won't be so good now.
I'll sleep well tonight. I hope!
JULY -1941
543
5 SATURDAY
Had an uninterrupted sleep last night!? Usual
morning routine, plenty of coffee. Not as
stiff as I thought I would be. We have been
getting 3 cigarettes each, every day from the
contractors. Only 1/2 day today, so only got
2 cigs. Lunch: spuds & a little meat. --
Surprise - Pay day. 3 R.M. 50 R.P. in
canteen coupons. Can only buy razor blades
tooth paste & brushes. Lemonade, bottles
& powders, boot polish & cigarette papers!
1 loaf of bread per man & 1/5 kilo of margarine
very nice, too! Probably because we have not
had any for a long time. Also Hun tea, awful
after coffee. No hot meal. The bread has to
last until Monday. No issue tomorrow.
Rumor of Russians taking Danzig! The Huns
say they are 500 Kilo's into Russia! What
can you believe? None of it!!!
KRIESELDORF
1941 JULY
544
6 SUNDAY
Played bridge last night until 10.15 P.M. Up at
6 A.M. Coffee at 6-30, room had to be in inspection
order 8 AM. Was inspected yesterday & was best
in camp! Lunch: spuds + sauerkraut! Not much.
Made a monopoly set and played several games.
Playing bridge in afternoon. They sacked the cook
today. Huns want one that is friends to all, not a
few! Sausage for tea. No bread left. In bed 9 P.M.
545 7 MONDAY
Usual early morning routine, mild morning. Extra
men start this morning. Pretty hungry! We lengthened
the line & put on 3 more trucks! Only 2 trucks per hour
The coffee was cold this morning. Made us pass a lot of
water. Lunch: spuds & meat & sauce. Very nice. A
rush now so many are feeding at the same time.
Only 2 cigs per man. A very warm afternoon. Tea:
a soup, not enough! Canteen open, bought some
lemonade! The other new cook got sack!!!
JULY -1941
546 8 TUESDAY
As per usual. Rumor last night that Russia had taken
Rumania 5 days after starting! Am sleeping very well.
Asleep as I soon as ^I hit the pillow. Lunch: A thick soup
of maize meal & spuds. Very nice: A bit of fun in
P.M. sat down for a minute & started a riot! Will
have to get changed it's too hard for me! My stomach
is a mess by the rumbling! Tea; Spaghetti & Tomato
sauce & bread. Rumor of Gen. Wavell in Moscow!!!'
£41-3-10
9 WEDNESDAY
547 Went on sick parade!
Gosh I sleep like a log of a night now. Got a
change to an easy job, what I was doing first! Feel
much better. Tea instead of coffee this morning.
Lunch: Spuds, turnips & maize meal just alright!
Only 1 cigarette again today. More tomorrow! ?
Tea: Maize meal & apricot juice, very
nice, but not anywhere near enough substance
to keep us going! Rumors of America in it
again! OH YEAH!
KRIESELDORF
1941 - JULY
Sailed from Sydney 18 months ago
548 10 THURSDAY
Woken at 4-40 this morning, lay in until 4-50!
My turn as duty orderly! Got the coffee & water &
swept the hut. Mild morning. Easy job. Loafed
all the morning. Pretty definite about America.
Lunch: Maize meal & spuds. Worked a bit
harder in afternoon. Tea: Maize meal & Spaghetti
& meat in gravy. Very nice! U.S.A. England & Russia
supposed to be bombing Germany pretty bad! We hope.
549 11 FRIDAY
Wish I always slept like this. Usual routine. Get up, have
coffee, go to work, come back for lunch, back to work,
back for tea & sleep. 5½ days per week! They are getting a
horse for us to eat! Lunch: Maize meal, bust!
Tea: Saur Kraut & spuds. They killed & skinned
the horse this afternoon. Rumors of Germany
packing up. What next! Everything is rationed
in Germany. Even clothes for the soldiers them selves
Nothing to report.
JULY 1941
Paid 4 marks as pfennigs 4-20 TOTAL 7-70
550 12 SATURDAY
Hooray for Samstag (Saturday)! Only ½ day. warm
day. Morning routine as usual. No1 party leaves at
6-20, No2. at 6-35 & No3 at 6-40. and come back
with the same interval at lunch time to save any
big ques! Afternoons, as usual. Lunch: Spuds &
horse. Not bad either. The trains that go past
here are from, KLAGENFURT to SALZBURG, VIA
VILLACH and we are 1 mile from SPITTAL between
VILLACH and Salzburg. The camp name is
KRIESELDORF! The canteen is under way now. The
soft drink, like ginger ale, is not bad. Must be a
small factory though. The empty bottles must be
returned as soon as possible and they are always
selling out! The showers are finished but owing
to the water shortage they have not turned them on
We have to go to a pump up the road for water now,
Tea: Roast horse! 1 slice per man with spoonfull
of gravy. Very nice, also jerry tea. & 1 loaf bread
KRIESELDORF
1941 JULY
551 SONTAG
13 SUNDAY
Played bridge last night for couple of hours. I
hope we can buy ink because I have just about
run out! A beautiful morning. Not feeling the
best. About ½ doz. men have gone back to Wolfsberg.
sick! Tea again this morning. Lunch: Spuds & meat &
gravy. Issue of margarine & jam for tea. Sold 4
pages of writing paper for ¼ loaf! A very warm
day. Have indegstion bad. Took some Bicarbe'
tablets
552 14 MONDAY
Had a good sleep last night. Always wake up with a bad
ache in tummy. Back to work again beautiful morning
and a warm day. Coffee for breakfast. Lunch: A
soup, not enough spuds! Tea: Maize meal with
mashed spuds. Rumors are flying again. Italy thrown
it in again! Russia giving them a hiding! Calling
up all German workmen! Wish we could get
some authentic news, however small! I
am looking forward to getting letters!
JULY 1941
553
15 TUESDAY
Another good sleep last night, usual routine
for day. Cool morning early. Warm day.
Lunch: Carrotts & spuds almost a soup. No
body in it. Trouble is brewing here in camp.
Tea; Same as lunch with souer Kraut. Not
much good. Spud barber at night. A lot of
new spuds came in. Should be getting better
rations from tomorrow. The works doctor has
been around checking up.
16 WEDNESDAY
554
As usual in morning. The old Austrian in
charge of our gang told us that Germany was
fighting Russian on 3 fronts; Finland, Rumania
& Hungary. The German paper admits German Kqf
also 1500 planes carrying paratroops over Germany
also tanks (Russian) are doing plenty of
damage. He says war will be finished soon
Lunch: spuds & meat. Tea; maize meal &
spuds. Rain in afternoon lost ¾ hour work.
KRIESELDORF
1941 JULY
555 17 THURSDAY
Rain last might & cool. Coffee in morning.
Usual day. Lunch: Almost a stew, very
nice & plenty of it. A cool day. Will be glad
to get to bed tonight. No news or rumors.
German papers has head lines 'Stalin &
Churchill walk arm in arm.' General feeling
is that Jerry is getting a hiding! Tea: Awful
only ½ and that Sour Kraut. Oh well!
what can we do.
18 FRIDAY
556
A very cool morning but warmed up upwards
midday! This week has simply flown
only seems like Wednesday. Lunch: Spuds
& peas. Very solid & good. Tea: New spuds
in their jackets with a sauce! Very nice &
filling. No news or rumors except that
Germany has supposed to have asked Russia
for peace terms! Some news came over the
wireless tonight that excited the Jerrys!
JULY 1941
Paid 4 M 20 PF
557
19 SATURDAY
Rain!!! It rained steady all night and
was still raining when we should have gone
to work. We finally went to work at 8 A.M.
didn't do much. Lunch: Spuds with a
meat sauce. Wonderful! These new spuds
are very nice. A forman was picking men out
of the lunch que. I was one. 17 men leave
tomorrow for another camp. Reg. Wright is
one of them. 160 leave in about 2 weeks time.
Did not hear any news at all today, although
the jerry's are very quite. A very
cloudy day all day, clouds like a fog just
over the tree tops. Very picturesque! Tea:
Maize meal with marmalade sauce.
I am feeling pretty good lately. They tell
us that July to about ½ of August are the warm
months, the end of August & September are either
very cold or just middling!
KRIESELDORF
1941 JULY
558
20 SUNDAY
A beautiful morning - had a good sleep. Did
some washing(?) 90 men to leave here tomorrow
morning. I am one! Wouldn't it. Only a ¼ hrs'
walk from here. They have split us 3 up, Reg this
morning went away; Toby stops here, and I go
tomorrow! Lunch: Boiled spuds in a meat gravy!
Issue of sausage & tea for tea, we leave at .7 A.M.
tomorrow. It got very windy in afternoon & cool.
Played Bridge - lost 6.81 marks, owe it to P.DEAVES
559 21 MONDAY
More rain last night - very slight this A.M.! on the
move again - 12 months ago had just arrived in Alex.
Left camp 7 A.M. only 15 mins. walk. Huts are not as
new as others. on the side of hill overlooking outskirts
of Spittal. Will be working on road. Ten men
were taken away just after we had arrived.- Lunch:
boiled spuds in jackets & sauerkraut. 2 lots! work in
P.M. Tea: Something like porridge - plenty of it. The CSM
is getting things done. Got underpants (long) on check pay
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