Diary of George William Edward Clark, January 1941 - September 1942 - Part 9

SEPT. & OCT.  — 1941 
630
30 TUESDAY 
A good sleep last night. Usual morning routine
went and got the bread again Have to go to work
I thought I was out! Go this morning. I will go
and come back again. Left at 10 A.M. Had to
wait until 12 for a train at Wolfsberg station.
Changed at Zeltweg - Had to wait until 8 P.M.
Arrived at Klagenfurt 11-30 and we got out
and slept in waiting room. At least tried to
£64-5-10 
631
1 October WEDNESDAY
Up at 7 AM train leaves at 8. On a branch
line heading towards Wolfsberg. We saw the boys
working on the railway line. Hard work too. We
got off at 2nd station. Walked about 400 yds
to camp. A terrible place more like a pigsty!
Very small. Had a bowl of hot milk.
Lunch : A soup and a piece of meat & spuds.
Tea: Bowl of hot milk & bowl of cucumber.

1941 [*TIANACH-STEIN*] OCTOBER
632
2 THURSDAY
Terrible sleeping accomodation for us 5. All on
one ledge affair! I told the Jerry in charge last night
that I wasn't working. He hit the roof but I am
going back to Stalag! The sooner the better, this is a 
terrible place. Coffee with milk first thing in the 
morning 5-30. also piece of bread. 4 men leave the
job about 11 walk down to here - collect lunch &
carry it back. Lunch: Soup meat & cabbage. Tea:
Dumplings! 
633 
3 FRIDAY
Drew two tins from parcel last night. May not
leave here until Monday. Wouldn't it. Coffee 
as usual - the guards slept in & woke us up at 6-05.
Up at 8-45! The Jerry corporal has gone to
Klagenfurt. The time drags something awful
Lunch: Soup. lettuce & some dumpling! Not bad!
Had sleep in afternoon. Tea: Potato soup. We
are going tomorrow morning at 7 A.M. —
No were not! Sunday midday now! 

OCTOBER — 1941
634   
4 SATURDAY
Did not sleep so well last night because I
slept in afternoon. The Jerry corporal changed
his mind last night and we are to go back to
Wolfsberg on Sunday with 3 others a total of
5. Up at 8 A.M. Had a few jobs to do. Carrying
bucket's ful of stones from the river edge 50 yds
away. The weather is terrible have not seen the
sun since we have been here. Misty & foggy.
The river is the Drau and is fairly big here.
Lunch: Barley and tomato soup. Stewed apples
and pastry. The food is really good here. Hitler spoke
on wireless yesterday for nearly 4 hours. We think
Churchill speaks tomorrow! The gist of Hitlers'
speech was: Russia will capitulate any day
and then he (Hitler) will force America & England
to sue for peace. Why America unless they are
in the war. There are 2,000,000 dead & the same
number captured Russians & has captured 4 times
the area of England in Russia.
1941 — [*TAINACH-STEIN.*] OCTOBER

635
5 SUNDAY
Tea last night a milk soup & spuds. Did not sleep so
good last night either! Coffee & bread as usual this
morning at 7-30. We do not go until tomorrow
now. I wish he would make up his mind. Had my
hair cut yesterday feel a lot better now. Lunch:
Roast veal & lettuce & soup. A beautiful piece of
meat. We definitely go tomorrow now. I hope
so! Tea: Coffee bread and pink cheese.
636  
6 MONDAY
Only a fair sleep. Up at 5-20 Yes we go this morning
at 7 A.M. Train left 7.05. Arrived at Klagenfurt
7-35 have to wait until 9-50 for train to Zeltweg!
Terrible train service here. Train left on time?
Arrived at Zeltweg 1.35 have to wait until 4-55
for train to Wolfsberg. Again left on time arrived at
Wolfsberg 7 but got off at Priell the next stop
and saved a mile walk. In camp 7-30 P.M. 

OCTOBER [*5th PARCEL.*] —1941
637
7 TUESDAY
Woken up at 6 A.M. Had a fair sleep. Had tea!
Cleaned up room and then searched but not
very well! Into delouser at 9-30. Finished
at 10-30 and into English compound. Everything
still the same. Went on N.C.Os. parade at
2-30. Don't know what for - only a check up I
think. Lunch: Grated spuds & red cabbage.!
Usual 1/5 loaf & margarine. Got a Red Cross parcel.
638
8 WEDNESDAY
A good sleep last night, awake at 6. Up at 7.
check parade 7-30, went before German doctor at
8-30 was made D.U.S.B. -, No work special diet &
treatment until the 16^th, this month. Bread ration
at 9-30 & margarine - drew some tins from
parcel. Lunch: 11 AM - Spuds in jacketts &
saur kraut. Tea issue 12. drew a library
book. Rumor of Japan withdrawing from ANS
1941 — [*WOLFSBERG.*] OCTOBER
639
9 THURSDAY
Played bridge last night a match game. We won.
A competition. Four rounds to play. Had good sleep.
Up at 7 AM. Had tea at 8-30. Just walking
around all morning. Lunch: A soup & a bowl of
maize (sweet). also ½ loaf of white bread. Thats
the special diet. Played cards in afternoon Tea:
only for special diet - oatmeal. Drew the rest of my
parcel Wrote letter to Mum. No news.
640
10 FRIDAY
Up at usual time wrote two cards to Bede & Laurie.
usual check parade 7-30. Had walk in
morning. The last several mornings have
been freezing. Lunch: Mashed spuds & carrots
& soup & ½ loaf white bread. Very nice.
Watched football match in afternoon. Tea:
Boiled rice in milk & issue of jam. Making
tea about 3 times a day. Played bridge
again and won again. 

OCTOBER  — 1941
641
11 SATURDAY
A good sleep last night up at 7. No fog
this morning although very cloudy. No sign
of snow yet. No new rumors. Houses
around here have Nazi flags flying —!
The rumor has gone round that Russia is
'Kőput' which is all 'bull' Supposed to
be a general coming round. Had not
been sighted up to midday. Lunch: ½
loaf bread, soup & oatmeal. I put a tin of
peas in the soup - very nice and filling.
Had a sleep in afternoon woke up at 4 P.M.
Had pot of tea and some bread butter &
Honey. The General did not turn up.
Played bridge again - 4th Round - won
again! Rain in the afternoon.
1941 — [*WOLFSBERG*] OCTOBER
[*6TH PARCEL.*]
642
12 SUNDAY
Had good sleep up at 8 A.M. Usual morning
tea. 500 men coming in this morning from
Zeltweg airport. The Red Cross stopped them
because being a military objective. Lunch: Soup
mashed spuds & carrotts. ½ loaf bread. Watched
football match between French & Belgiums. Very
good show! French won 18-2. Very cold. Snow!!
Several flakes here. Some on the hill. Freezing.
643

13 MONDAY
Had usual sleep up at 7. Thars' snow on
them thar hills. Br.r.r Aint it cold?
A lot of Red Cross stuff came in - Pullovers -
Sox gloves and underwear. Red Cross parcels
issued in morning mine was a fair one.
Lunch: Soup and milk & macaroni ½ loaf
bread. The snow melted very quickly. Still
very cold! Tea: Oatmeal & jam. A marvellous
sunset Have never seen anything like it! 

OCTOBER — 1941
644
14 TUESDAY
It may have been a sign of the times - last nights
sunset! Had usual sleep. Up at 7. Snow has
all melted on the hills. Lunch: Soup and
mashed spuds & a sort of spinach usual bread.
A nice day very warm in the sun for an
hour or two. Tea: Macaroni & milk. Rumors
of Jerry being unable to handle his wounded
they are dying like flies. Motor transport U.S.|
£68-2-10
645
15 WEDNESDAY
Went to concert last night for the chaps from
the Zeltweg camp. Had fair sleep. Up at 7. Very
cold & overcast. Jerry mucking about with
blanketts getting all his re-stamped. Lunch:
Late today 12 PM instead of 11. Macaroni
and soup & 'spinach'. ½ loaf bread. Very cold
no wind. shortened by battle dress pants in
afternoon. Tea: Milk - boiled milk - spuds
jam & butter. No news. Had shower.  

1941 — [*WOLFSBERG.*] OCTOBER
646
16 THURSDAY
Went to another concert last night a 'repeat'.
Had good sleep up at usual time very cold. A white
frost! Br.r.r.! Made the tea at 8 A.M. water from the
shower room. Lunch: Usual bread ration, soup
and maize. Sitting in sun reading in afternoon
'Little Mrs Manington'! Tea: Oatmeal & jam
issue. A check parade at 6 P.M. Because 4
Sgts escaped last night but got caught!
647
17 FRIDAY
Usual sleep last night, up at 7. to be
a check parade at 8 A.M. but was put off.
The check parade last night lasted 2 hours,
Lunch: Still on special diet but last day,
½ loaf bread soup and mashed spuds with
meat. Did a job of work shifting bricks and
jambed my thumb put a blood blister on
it. Very sore. Tea: Rice & milk. Jams
Played bridge won again by 2000 Pts. 

OCTOBER — 1941
648
18 SATURDAY
Had a fair sleep last night but I think I
am 'lousy'. Awful things! Back on normal
diet again brown bread 1/5 & 1/6 of a packet of honey.
Lunch: A green mess. spinach or cabbage! It was
hot if nothing else. No news of any note.
The German papers claim that their troops are
160 Kms from Moscow! No mention of
Leningrad! A Rumor of British troops going
through Turkey. Also British troops have
landed in Archangel! The Germans have cut
the ration of potatoes sugar & bread for the
civilian population. It wont be long now.
The Germans in the kitchen have addmitted
that they must have lost at least 2,000,000
men in Russia! Had a tin of herrings in
tomato sauce and all my bread ration at
4 P.M. also a pot of tea. Felt good after it.
a concert at night. Very good. 

1941 — [*WOLFSBERG.*] OCTOBER
[*7TH PARCEL*]
649
19 SUNDAY
A broken sleep last night almost eaten alive!
will have to get deloused! We move to No 1 Barack
today. A parade at 8-30 A.M. inspection by Hun
officer! A very cold & overcast day. Lunch: A
potatoe soup with some meat in it. 1/5 loaf
bread & margarine. I have finished my parcel
Roll on tomorrow! No tea to two nights now!
Played bridge got beaten should have won!
650
20 MONDAY
Trixie's birthday! Many happy returns! Parcel
day, hooray! Up at 7. A good sleep. Usual
check parade drew parcel at 8-30 got a good
one too a scotch one! Wrote a letter to Mother.
Lunch: Usual green mash. Just eatable! 1/5
loaf. 1/16 margarine. Wish we could hear
some news. Usual pot of tea at 8-30 A.M.
made over a fire and another made from hot
water from showers at 5 P.M. 

OCTOBER — 1941
651
21 TUESDAY
A very good sleep last night up at 7-30
no check parade this morning. Had to clean
out No 6. No bread until 12 Russians are
supposed to come in tomorrow! Lunch: Spuds
in jackets & fish it smells! America in war
again & Turkey!? All Leave stopped for
German army! Something in the air. 68 air
raids over Germany & only 4 over England
Did not get bread until 6 P.M.!
652
22 WEDNESDAY
Usual sleep up at 7-15. Bread issue at
9 A.M. also margarine. Drew some tins out
of my Red Cross parcel. I had 20 articles in
mine! Lunch: Spuds in jackets & Saur kraut
I made some porridge very nice also had
a tin of creamed rice! A parade in afternoon
we must do this that and all the usual
bull. Russians due in morning.
weather getting cloudy. In bed 9 P.M.
1941 — [*WOLFSBERG*] OCTOBER
653
23 THURSDAY
Revellie was supposed to be 4 AM today but were
called at 5-30. Up at 6-15 went and had tea.
Raining nearly all night. Very cold - SNOW.
until 9 A.M. All hills covered. Russians come
in 7-30. In a disgraceful condition. They
had to strip in the rain & sleet for the delouser!
About 1,000 of them came in. The sleet & snow is
still falling all the hills are white down to our level
Lunch: Soup.
24 FRIDAY
654
Bed was the best place last night Had a very
good sleep, too! Up at 7. On parade to see the
commandant! at 8-30. Still cold and snowing
and sleet. A working party formed! Had us
standing in cold for an hour! Lunch: More of
this soupy mixture! Still very cold & overcast
with more sleet & rain. Drew some more
tins out. Only have 1 tin of M & V left.
Played bridge in afternoon won a few pennies 

OCTOBER — 1941
655
25 SATURDAY
Another good sleep up at 7-15. Still cloudy
and overcast but no rain so not so
much rain. Lunch: boiled spuds in skins
and a piece of fish. Swiss Red Cross delegation
arrived yesterday and classed our barracks
as no good. Too cold! Every where in Europe
is in a state of semi-famine but not
British Isles! Traded 3 cakes soap for 1 tin
peas & 1 tin M & V. So I had a good tea!
Somebody supposed to have heard B.B.C. and
say that England has supremacy in the
air! So it shouldn't be long now!
The Red Cross are supposed to have said
that everything has been one sided for
the last month in our favour! We certainly
hope so. Next March should see the end
is my guess now. There are 1,000,000 pts.
at Geneva for British P.O.Ws.
1941 — [*WOLFSBERG.*] OCTOBER
[*8TH PARCEL  1ST CANADIAN*]
656
26 SUNDAY
In bed last night 7-30 and did not get up until
7-30! very nice. my turn to make tea today
which means 3 fires 9 AM 12. and 4 P.M.
Bread and honey was issue Lunch: usual soup.
Very hot which is best of it! Trying to fine
up, but still cold! Plenty of snow still on
the hills. No new news. Canadian parcels
tomorrow from 1 to 200.
657
27 MONDAY
A good sleep. usual cold morning still cloudy -
parcels issued 9 A.M. A large tin of powdered milk
½lb sugar ½lb choclate in fact very good. Lunch:
A mushy soup! A chap had a letter to say Russians
are pushing jerrys back and victory will soon be ours,
and it wasn't censored! It was a fact because I
saw it! Tea: Maize & potatoe mash very hot
& good. A letter card issued. A parade at 6 P.M.
for working party. 

OCTOBER — 1941
658
28 TUESDAY
A very cold night although I did not know
until this morning. A pure white frost just
like snow. everything is white and cold - brr.r.r
The ground's solid now. Drew tins from parcel.
Patches of water have turned to ice. Lunch:
Another stew. Walking around all afternoon
trying to keep warm. Sun came out for a while
Tea: Maize & Spud stew. In bed 9 P.M. -
£71-19-10
659
29 WEDNESDAY
Up at 7-45! Not so cold this morning no
frost. Usual morning pot of tea at 8-30.
Did some work cleaning up outside hut
keeping warm mainly. Lunch: Potato mash
Finished cleaning up. Then walked around
in the sun. Nice day for a while not so cold.
More Russians being deloused. Rumor that when
Jerry took KIEV he lost 3,000,000 men after. Tea:
Spud mash! Russians evacuated ODESSA were
not beaten.
1941 — [*WOLFSBERG.*] OCTOBER
660
30 THURSDAY
A fair sleep Fleas! SNOW! an inch thick outside
but it is not so cold. Everything is covered white
Very muddy and wet! Probably snow again
today. Yes snowned all day. Everything is snow
white. Lunch: A bean and horse meat stew. Not
bad. A fair wind blowing all day. Very cold.
Coming from the North. Couldn't see more than
400 yards. Eased off towards 8 P.M. In bed 9-30.
661
31 FRIDAY
Up at 7-30 Not very cold. Snow has stopped.
and is all melting - very sloppy. The sun came
out. Plenty of snow fights & plenty of fun.
Lunch: Spuds & 1 piece of fish. Usual bread
issue 1/5 loaf & margarine 17 to 1 Kilo. Still
fine and warm. Tea: A vegetable soup. A
breeze started as soon as the sun went down
Blooming cold. Brr-r-r! A clear night.
A ¾ moon. Here ends October. 

NOVEMBER — 1941

662
1 November SATURDAY
An absolutely freezing morning. Ice everywhere!
I did not get up until nearly 8 A.M.
Started to snow about 11-30. Very steady
almost two inches at 5 P.M. Lunch: Spuds
in jacketts and raw cabbage. Snowing very
solid until after 9 P.M. at least. Had
some fun in afternoon snow fighting. No
news of any importance. The YUGO-SLAVS
have been blamed for blowing up the railway
line near Klagenfurt. It is still out of
order according to chaps that have come from
the direction of Spittal yesterday. The photos
taken by jerry and printed in the
camp show terrific conditions!
Jerrys claim to have taken Cherkov.
the capital of the Ukraine.
1941 — [*WOLFSBERG*] NOVEMBER
[*9TH PARCEL*]
663
2 SUNDAY
Did not sleep well had to get up about 4-30
Tummy ache! Not snowing then. Got up at
8-15.? Did not get morning tea until 10
A.M. Lunch at 10-30 usual muck about
Some fun snow ball fighting. All day
throwing snow balls. Lunch: A mushy soup.
Starting to thaw in afternoon getting mushy
and muddy. Am not feeling to good. In bed 8-30.
664
3 MONDAY
Joined the army 2 years ago! Had to get up at
2-30 this morning it's a bit of a 'bugger'!
Up at 8-15. Parcels issued I got an invalid
one. A large tin condensed milk and large tin
milk powder! Lunch: Usual mash with
a taste of Jerry bully beef. Raining all
afternoon played bridge & won 2 games
in one. Tea: Another mash. In bed 10 P.M.