Diary of George William Edward Clark, January 1941 - September 1942 - Part 6

[*ON TRAIN TO

GERMANY 

YUGO SLAVIA*]

JUNE -1941

525   
17 TUESDAY    

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     

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! BELGRAD^E

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 for man for 48 hrs. Still in

marshalling yards!

[*ON TRAIN *]
1941 - JUNE

[*CROATIA*]

527 
19 THURSDAY

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
Our 5^th 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 

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 ad 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 2 full & Phew! Tea 4-30 P.M.

soup, of sausage, very good. Altogether 

a very good day for as food is concerned.

Should sleep well tonight

[*RUSSIA AT WAR AGAINST GERMANY

AUSTRIA*]

1941-30 Days  JUNE

[*WOLFSBERG CAMP

My number is 849.  'convict 99' what! *]

22 SUNDAY 
530

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 potato & sourkraut 1/5 loaf bread

1/10 tin of paste. An now in huts on a straw palliases!

531

23 MONDAY 

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

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 N^o 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 maze in it. very 
good.

Am trying to learn German.

[* £37-6-10*]

 25 WEDNESDAY

533

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, 1/3

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 1

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, 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.

27 FRIDAY

535

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 around. Beautiful

scenery. Large hotel on opposite '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 a mile to camp: passed several other

camp on way. Had hot meal - cabbage, spuds, etc

[* OUR HOME FOR HOW LONG?*]

JUNE -1941

[*KRIESELDORF CAMP*]

536 
28 SATURDAY 179-186

Only a small camp and we are going to be split up

into 4 groups: - this camp is great! 18 to 24 yards.

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 bounty 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 

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 for

men-Tea: Spuds + cabbage. Looked by Tommy, awful!

Sent RED CROSS card to mother.

30 MONDAY 

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 12^oF in Winter time & snow to

3 to 4 feet deep. boon! 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 & Swede's. Very tired!

540   2 WEDNESDAY

Up at 5 A.M. Slept like a boy! Plenty of coffee, HOT!

also some of last nights tea I had left over. cold. Started

work 7. Not so 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, looed like rain, but

kept off luckily! Time is going quicker now.

Tea: Same as lunch. some saved coffee from this 

morning. Speed 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.

Speed barber again. More spuds tomorrow, horray!

542  4 FRIDAY 

Slept like a boy 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 2 sore mainly my 

legs this 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 & cigarettes 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 plum 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 at 8 AM. Was inspected yesterday & was best

in camp! Lunch: spuds + souerkraut! Not much.

Made a monopoly set and played several games.

Playing bridge in afternoon. They sacked the cook

today. Huns went 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 amess by the rumbling! Tea; Spaghetti & Tomato

sauce & bread. Rumor of Gen. Warell in Moscow!!!'

[*£42-3-10 *]  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! ?

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*]

194 - JULY

[* Sailed from Sydney 18 months ago*]

548  10 THURSDAY

Waken 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 mean & 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*]

550    12 SATURDAY

Hooray for Siamstag (Saturday)! Only ½ day. warm

day. Morning routine as usual. N^o1 party leaves at

6-20, N^o2. at 6-35 & N^o3 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 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, the 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 3 fronts; Finland, Ruman

& Hungary. The German paper admits Kqf

also 1500 planes carrying paratroops over Germany

also tanks (Russian ) are doing plenty of

damage. He says was 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 glas

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 Saur Kraut. ORwell!

what can we   18 FRIDAY   do.

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: Ne spuds

in their jackets with a sauce! Very nice &

filling.  No news or rumors except that

Germany has suppose 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