Major Henry Charles David Marshall - Wallet 2 - Booklet 9 - Part 5

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we arrived at an aerodrome outside Athens on 12.6.41 and 
if you correctly have understood my description of my condition 
you can imagine my relief internally. We hung around 
the place for three hours and then were placed in trucks 
and set off for an unknown destination. I was in the 
front of a truck with a German driver leading the convoy. He 
did not know the way and we toured Athens streets for about 
two hours. The population gave us an amazing demonstration 
showering cigarettes and small articles of food on the troops 
(I should say officers) in the back and cheering in the face 
of black looks from the Germans. Finally the guards used 
their rifle butts on some of them. I have not mentioned before 
but we had had no smokes for some time and being in 
the front I did not participate in any of the gifts or the purchases made. 
This tour continued for some time and was certainly heartening 
but this N.C.O. in charge finally realising he was lost made for the 
Police Barracks of the Rouf Yard station which had been taken over

by the Germans. We waited in the yard whilst he obtained orders 
here I received the second spontaneous kindness from a German 
that I ever got. The driver of my vehicle got out, went in and

came back with two packets of 10 cigs and would not accept any 
money. The first one certainly tasted well. From Rouf Yard we 
were led to another Greek barracks part of the way again 
through the Athens streets where another demonstration and 
cheers were received. We debussed and were allotted quarters. 
I was in a room with the senior marine Major and someone else 
whom I cannot recall. I know I had a blanket but do not know 
where I got it and this was all that was on the bed except a 
spring mattress which made patterns on us. The blue coat I 
mentioned previously became my pillow and we slept in our 
clothes. There were many Greeks and Serbs in the same block of 
barracks which like all other Greek institutions was flea 
and bug ridden. We could only look out on the square and 
see Germans playing a species of handball and servicing 
trucks. By now a greater number of us were suffering from 
dysentery and the greek lavatory was a trial for us. It 
was a stone slab with foot marks raised like a double 
boot black stand and a hole in the stone. You are required 
to squat and I can say that with our sickness that soon 
the place was foul and I had to speak to all the officers 
assembled. I was the Senior in this party once again. In 
fact I gave a lecture on sanitation. Newspaper was also 
damnable scarce. I shall have to describe the rest of our stay 
of a few days in isolated instances. Food was cooked by Serbs 
and consisted of rice stew one a day and an awful mint 
tea once a day dealt out by a filthy looking Serb whom we 
later found to be an officer. We filed downstairs passed the 
vat and got a ladle full. It was here I made my first acquaintance 
with horse and everyone was lucky to get some. The marines 
and some other officers had a lot of Greek money from official

 

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sources and an arrangement was made with the Guard 
Commander who was in the building to allow four or five 
officers to go to the barrack gates and buy food from some 
hawkers at the barrack gates. They brought back dried fruits 
mainly figs and raisins, some small sweet cakes and 
cigarettes. This time the Marines did not keep these for their 
own officers but religiously shared them out. Which was 
extremely good of them. I think too, a certain amount of trading 
went on with some of the Greeks for Greek biscuits and odd bits 
of equipment. We were not allowed out for exercise so I asked for 
a meeting with a German officer. Wilson the marine interpreter 
arranged this and a young Lieutenant arrived. He looked 
spick and span and was correct in his behaviour and in 
contrast I felt the great unwashed. I asked for exercise 
facilities, better food and better quarters and complained of 
the sanitation. I too, felt like Theo that I could not and 
did not trust Wilson in interpreting to convey my meaning. 
However next day we were moved to another barrack block and 
things were a little easier away from the Greeks and Serbs. 
Again too, we were granted half an hours exercise between 
the blocks but this was ruined by some officers dashing for 
the gate to buy cigarettes and food and brandy. In consequence 
we were not allowed out next day. A few more officers arrived 
including some Australians and an RAMC doctor named 
Cochrane with a fiery red beard who could also speak 
German. Later he confessed to having been a volunteer 
doctor in the Spanish Civil War. I am a bit hazy about 
dates but we were warned for movement and a considerable

trading activity with the Greeks and Serbs resulted and all 
sorts of articles were purchased. I had a greek mess tin and 
I bought a haversack and a pocket knife. It had been made 
out of hoop iron and I could bend it double and then 
straighten it. Naturally we were robbed. I was sill troubled 
with dysentery but succeeded in getting into the trucks which 
moved us to Rouf Yard station where we entrained for Salonika. 
The officers about 120 were in a second class carriage - had we 
known it the last comfortable conveyances for years. We 
journeyed on to Grabia were the blowing up of the bridge by 
Keith Travis made a halt necessary. During the journey the 
marines shared out their money and we were able to buy 
occasional cigarettes and some sweet cakes - mainly fig 
cakes which were laxative and not the best thing for people in 
our condition. We also occasionally succeeded in getting a 
loaf of Greek bread which by now was a luxury. At one 
stop near the coast we also in our carriage succeeded in 

getting a plate of small fish - fresh which went well with 
the bread and I can tell you I ate all I could get. 
The previous party to us had arrived at Grabia and had to march 
by road to the next station past the blown railway at Lamia 
a distance of 23 miles over very steep mountainous tracks. It was 
a killing march and in fact did kill one of the German Guards.

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We were to wait at Grabia for a train coming on behind us with an 
unknown quantity of men before we commenced the march. We were 
nearly all down with dysentery and Cochrane who had some

charcoal and opium was busy keeping us in order. The other 
busy portion of the station was the [[useless]] convenience which had 
to work overtime. We spent the day lounging in the sun as the 
platform and building little fires for cooking our meagre rations. I

cannot remember what train rations we were given but we 
probably had some Greek biscuits and 1/5 loaf of bread. Greek 
biscuits are the hardest thing I know. Cast Iron is easier to 
break and soaking was the only relief. You could whittle them 
away with a knife or sucking a piece kept you busy for an 
hour. That night we slept in cattle & goods trucks in the 
railway yard and were strongly guarded. The usual rumours 
of the missing train were current- it would be here at any 
time. The sun was a blessing and we lay down in our weak 
state and stayed put until another call of nature. The day was 
enlivened by a shot and most of us thought someone had 
tried to escape but it turned out to be the German officers

commanding the town shooting at an owl with one of his men's 
rifle. He killed it, I think it was sheer self-advertising. 
I was not quite so bad this second day and Cochrane did 
a good job in another direction. He as I told you spoke 
fluent German and he worked hard on our Guards 
who were all old men going back to be discharged on 
reaching the returning age. Whether this had an effect or 
whether it was the plan anyway we were put in trucks 
just after dark and had a filthy dusty but very

less tiring journey across Braillos by road. I frankly

think that not many of us would have survived a

march. We often used to tease Keith who had to march
 across that he was hoist with his now petard. He destroyed 
the bridge and it was quite right he should march. 
We arrived at Lamia station covered in dust and 
were immediately place in cattle trucks about 25 in 
each. I had better describe a cattle truck. It is not like 
ours. They are closed in box cars with sliding doors each 
side and these were invariably kept locked. The only light 
and air came from a slit at each end on opposite sides 
of the carriage. That is two only - about a foot high and 
six feet long at the top in the roof. One had to stand 
up to look out. As I said I was fortunately getting better 
but had another dose of prophylactic charcoal to make 
sure. It was fortunate as no conveniences were provided

and we had to improvise from mess tins whenever we

had to relieve ourselves. We started off without the

following train and travelled some distance to a 
river where the bridge had been blown. This we had 
to cross on a pontoon bridge and walk about a mile 
to another waiting train. There were quite a number of

 

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troops about and what surprised us more quite a considerable 
amount of horse drawn transport. We had always thought 
the German army fully mechanical. We got on to this train 
and did not leave it again until we reached Salonika 
on 7.6.41. I do not think I have ever described Continental 
goods trains. The trucks of all countries are much the same 
and travel all over Europe. We saw Irish, Swiss, French, 
German and Greek trucks all in the one tram! Another 
unusual feature is that most brakes are hand operated 
and about a third of the transfer on a train have little 
cabins attached in which the brakesman travels. The 
whistle from the engine - brakes on - two brakes off. 
Our guards travelled in these cabins and I expect 
performed the dual functions. We pulled into Salonika station

and for some time were opposite to a German kitchen car. At 
least my truck was and we were tortured by seeing food being 
prepared in huge vats. It was about 6 oclock in the evening 
and we finally pulled into the station and detrained. Out 
through the gate to the street where we were formed up and 
counted. I do not know whether the German Under Officer 
in charge knew or if he did cared but a couple had 
slipped away on the journey. The streets were all cobble 
stoned and a few very archaic and funny looking trams 
were there. Some were able to buy some cigarettes but I was 
unable as I had no money. I had given a lot away to 
the troops in Crete and had used what I had for the purchase 
of food for myself and the other officers. We were finally marched 
off and to show our spirit started whistling. This was soon 
stopped and we heard "Verboten", forbidden used and 
maintained. It was a word often heard again. We turned 
right and along a straight road and passed some houses 
with women in them. I thought they were sympathetic in waving 
but I later learnt the houses were brothels. I hope I do not do 
the women an injustice when I rather doubt their sympathy 
now. Salonika had been occupied for some time by the 
Germans and the population were very much cowed and we received 
no demonstration such as in Athens. It was rather a dreary 
quarter of the town and we soon passed the more populated parts. 
The next thing of note was passing a place which looked like an 
Agricultural Show Grounds or Dog Racetrack and next to it 
the Barracks we were to occupy. These were the headquarters of a 
big formation of the Greek army and had been hurriedly 
converted into a transit camp by the Germans. We marched 
in and were almost immediately put through our first search. 
Our kits were turned out but I did not lose anything having 
at that time nothing to lose. We also had a body search but 
in comparison to later searches was very cursory. Some people 
later complained that in the excitement they lost valuable things 
such as a camera and a watch without receipts being 
given. I mean they disappeared without their knowledge and 

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the loss not discovered until later. We were then conducted to a 
barrack block and put on the second floor above a floor occupied
 by Serb and Greek prisoners. The room was a large one equipped 
with three men bunks made of wood with large wire mesh stretched 
across them. We had a clean up and then an R.A.C. Sgt came 
and conducted parties of us across the square in the dark to 
the kitchen where we were served out a bowl of thin German 
Pea Soup and some mint tea if you wanted it. He explained 
that we had to be conducted or the guards would fire on us. 

Then back to the barracks and to sleep. Personally I slept on 
an old door and did not use the bunks. I might as well tell you 
the story of the R.A.C. Sgt now. He was suspected well before I 
left of being pro German and of helping them and of giving 
away plans of escape. One such attempt cost four lives and 
years later I heard that retribution met him in a German 
Camp in Silesia where he was killed by British or Australian 
P.O.W's. We of course stuck to usual type of squatting Greek 
latrine and whilst in there I was ordered by a German 
private to get busy and clean them. This of course in 
German but his sign language was unmistakeable. So 
was mine. I pointed to my badge and said Officer. He 
flung away in a rage and I should think that every 
British private was an officer when it came to this job. 

There were a lot of British and Dominion other ranks already 
here - principally those captured in Greece. We were unable 
to go across to see Travis and the other arrivals before us 
because they were in another compound. During the morning 
a N.Z. Sgt came in and said he was connected with the

German canteen and offered to buy anything we wanted 
in the town when he went there. I ordered a razor and 
blades and later paid him 120 drachma for the razor. 
Later I was able to buy them from the canteen for 20 drachma 
and it was obvious that he made profit out of our position 
and inexperience. One officer gave him 10000 drachma for a 
watch. He certainly got the watch but no change my memory

of this period is not to good but I think that after two days 
we were moved to the other end of the barracks in which 
the earlier arrivals were placed. So we met up with them 
but found that they were nearly all captured on Crete - 
those captured in Greece particularly John Young and 
Mark Howard having been moved to Germany three 
or four days before we arrived. I was placed in charge 
of my end of the barracks with about 120 officers with 
an English Sapper Colonel as Senior British officer 
of the lot. I appointed an Adjutant and we settled in.

We were fortunate on our side by having three showers 
which worked most of the day. Barbed wire separated 
us from the other side and we had to go out a gate at 
our end and right round the barbed wire. There were 
a few trees on one side which made life a bit pleasanter.

 

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At night the doors and gates were locked and lights out was 9 pm. 
I cannot now give you a really connected account as regards 
time but I will not miss much by just treating them as 
incidents and forgetting chronological order. Just opposite to

us was a Greek shower room with a warmed circular stove 

in the middle. Apparently Greeks do not use towels but after a 

hot shower in cubicles around the stove they lie on it until 

dry. It has possibilities this method - but the operation was 
not always successful. Most of the beds in the barracks were 
two tier row bedsteads and the whole barracks and beds 

were lousy - literally lice and bug ridden. Officers tried 

 get rid of them by burning paper run all over the bed 
and placing the legs in tins of water - if you could get the 

tins. Until now I did not know how bugs could affect you 
faces swelled alarmingly and eyes closed and many were 
the shifts used by those most susciptable to the bugs. They 
used to sleep outside under the trees. Fortunately the bugs 
did not attack me but Keith Travis collected a lot of bites 
and his face swelled. Attached to the bathhouse was a steam 
delouser and twice we put our clothes and possessions through 
in an endeavour to keep things in check. In a room above 
the bathhouse a Yugoslav hairdresser and cobbler functioned. 
They would rather be paid with cigarettes than money but we 
were hanging on to what cigarettes we could purchase. I had 
one haircut but his instruments were not over clean so I did 
not go back. The cobbler also could only patch our soles as he 
had no leather and could only cut bits off old boots he had 
collected. John Wicking and Bernard arrived a few days 
after us as well as about twenty other new arrivals. The 
Germans had a canteen in the administrative block and 
they used to sell us odd things including Greek cigarettes

and occasional German Cigars. We were receiving pay from 
the Germans in Reichmarks but as this was a transit 
camp we only received half of our entitlement. This however 
was enough for my needs and allowed me to help some of 
the troops who were constantly arriving. One of our purchases

was a soccer ball - a boys size and this pleased some of the 
fitter people. There was some desultory kicking about and 
one organised soccer match but one was enough. No one 
had energy to waste. I became sick again and suffered 
once more with dysentery but it was not so severe and the 
latrine accomodation was better although, inadequate. One 
hardly like queuing up when in a hurry. I just about 
recovered before we left. There was no sport and in fact no 
one fit enough to engage in it - so only exercise possible 
was walking about 100" up and down and it rather 
amused me to see people stamping heavily up and down 
endeavouring to keep fit. They looked so serious about it. 
Our rations were meagre and very badly cooked for most of 

the time. We received one ninth of a loaf of bread - that is 

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the round Greek loaf which at a guess was 2 kilos = 5lbs of 
sour black-brown bread, three quarters of a hard Greek 
biscuit rather like a dog biscuit in size - and a ladle 
of soup once a day. Usually thin rice soup with a bit of horse 
in it if one were lucky. Together with mint tea this comprised 
our daily ration. Very few drank the tea as it was nauseating

stuff. I drank water. Later just before we left the Greek Red Cross 
did a marvellous job in getting in some fresh vegetables and 
white curd cheese two or three times but it never amounted 
to more than an issue of about half a tomato and an oz of 
cheese. The bread was often covered with green mould and would 
have been condemned in any other army. Protests by our doctors 
did not get very far so we ate it and this probably upset me again. 
Everyone queued up and even in this early stage there were many 
instances of officers double banking on the issue. First in the queue 
eating quickly and then back to the end again. It got very strained 
at times. When some of our troops were sent out working in

Salonika they were able to bring in some small items but they 
never amounted to much. One thing I remember was a tin of German 
treacle made from coal which was a luxury as we received only 
dry bread. When loading a barrel on a truck they had damaged 
it and collected some. I shall speak about a Black market 
later. I forgot to say that just before the end we moved to another 
part of the camp and came under the cooking of Yugoslavs. 
They seemed to be able to make our soup more appetising than the 
British cooks and gave us more. This gave rise to the feeling 
that the British cooks made away with some of our rations 
I had no proof but it was not a nice thought. About half way 
through our stay drafts of troops were leaving and I was able 
to buy a great coat from one of them and a holdall for my

razor. This I still have. I sewed my rank badges on the 
shoulder snaps with silk thread drawn from the strings 
of a German parachute. I made quite a good job of it - I think 
my first attempt at embroidery. The camp comprised all 
ranks - the officers segregated and all nationalities amongst 
the troops. Cypriots, Palestinians both Arab and Jew, Serbs , 
Yugoslavs, Greeks, British, Australian and New Zealand 
troops. There were two other camps around Salonika 
as far as I know all other ranks. They were pretty poor as

an RAMC doctor was sacked and sent to us for complaining 
about malnutrition causing two deaths. A thought has 
just struck me that I did not mention that after we were 
searched we received the advice cards printed in German 
to send to you. I received two and I think you got them 
both. Amongst the officers at the other end of our block

were two Greek Generals with their aides and a couple 
of fine looking Yugoslav officers. In fact all the 
Yugoslavs - officers and men were very fine  looking 
fellows. We were counted twice a day - at 6 am and 5 pm 
and the officers were marched from the barracks to the square 
in two parties - one from each end. The very sick being 

 

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allowed to drag themselves in their own time and set on some 
wood. There we were counted by a German Feld Webel or 
Sergeant Major. He did not want to salute me and in fact wanted 
me to salute him and I had my first brush with the Germans.

This interpreter told me I had to salute and I refused and 
was then called a swine and that this was a prisoner of war 
camp and not a hotel. The I.B.O was I think weak about the 
whole business when I reported it to him and got over it 
by coming down to my section of the officers and calling us 
to attention himself. I was not to popular with the officers 
under my command for I insisted on them shaving and marching 
not shambling in an endeavour to instil some pride into 
them. For Englishmen they tired me very hard and started the 
basis of my contempt for the average English officer. They caused 
me quite a number of difficulties. It is difficult to express in 
words but the average Englishman is very selfish and thinks 
only of himself. They even distrusted the British interpreter 
and I had to arrange for a deputation from my end to inform 
the SBO where to my horror they frankly said that they did 
not think the camp adjutant was presenting our complaints to 
the Germans properly. And as they could not be present at the 
meetings I fail to see how they could arrive at this conclusion.

I fully expected them to get their heads better off for their temerity 
by to my surprise nothing happened except an explanation of the 
difficulty in contacting the Camp Commandant. I can only

describe his attitude as weak and theirs as impertinence 
but a fairly true instance of the way English Officers act. It 
seems to be a habit of theres if they dislike an order to disregard 
it. Quite a number of our Battalion were in the Camp Hospital 
at one time or another. This was run by a Naval Surgeon with 
Cochrane as one of his assistants. Godby had dysentery badly, 
Felstead had jaundice and Johnstone had Beri Beri which 
was a nutrition disease. He  swelled about the eyes and it 
travelled downwards to his feet and at one time I never 
thought he could live. He stayed at Salonika and I met him 
again at Spangenbure. Books were extremely scarce and 
went from hand to hand. In an endeavour to arouse some 
sort of spirit I canvassed my end and commenced a series 
of lectures on any subject. I can recall one on Rugby - a 
night raid on Berlin, Astor Car Salesmanship in England 
and these became very popular - the other end of the block 
following suit after we broke the ice. Some troops arrived by 
ship from Crete and it was from them we received the news of 
Atock's death. Odd parties of officers arrived during our stay 
including Dakers who true to type had more gear than he 

could carry and had loaded his batman as well. One of these 

new arrivals was a N.Z. doctor a Major named Thompson 

was I think a bit crackers. The story goes that in Egypt 
he advocated that circumcision could be done in the R.A.P. 
without the necessity of hospitalisation and to prove his 
point operated on himself. Everyone very unfeelingly 

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laughed at him when he got infection due to the dirt. He 
came to me one morning and held out his palm and said 
"See that". I could see some grey little spot on his hand and 
of course said "Yes what is it". He then said it was a crab 
from our lavatory seat. Crabs are the devil so we tried to 
have the seats cleaned. Not too well and I still think he 
must have been wrong for no one to my knowledge caught them 
and they are highly catching. Another time he advocated 
the eating of grass and leaves to prevent scurvy. I took no 
notice but a lot of others chewed it for him. I am not saying 
he was wrong but it did not stop some of the chewers getting 
Beri Beri or Scurvy. During our stay in his block of buildings 

I have to tell you about some civilians. There was a high wall 
forming part of the boundary of the barracks near our block and 
I think a small road the other side. On the other side were some 
houses and the Greek civilians once a day used to risk their 
lives by displaying on a blackboard the headlines of the BBC news. 
Had the Germans found out they would have been immediately 
bumped off. I do not think the news was very accurate and I was 
certain their English was not too good but it was very wonderful 
of them to take the risk particularly as the Germans were very 
harsh in their treatment of civilians. I know of one case at 
the gate of two Greek civilians who had waved and shouted to us 
being made to stand in the Hands Up position for three hours or 
more. And that is a horrible punishment. Try it for five minutes. 
The dropping of their hands meant a bullet. I shall never again 
feel the contempt I had for Greeks whose only representatives I 
have met were cafe proprietors. I have never in any place even 
known such a hotbed of rumors as Salonika. Many were pure 
inventions and others had a semblance of truth soon embroidered 
out of all knowledge as they were passed from  mouth to mouth. 
Rumours of Russia after Germany had invaded her were rife and

each day the Russians were continually advancing and were 
nearing us. One of the Greek Generals was allowed visitors with 
food and he was always able to produce something new - 
never with any basis of the truth. "What does the General say" 
became a parrot cry. I think his best was after a few days of 
a progressive advance by the Russians he advised that we should 
all sleep with our boots on as the Russians were so near. One or 
two believed him but he was a few years before his time. A 
little way from us we could hear bugles playing and later 
heard that there were French in another barracks outside our 
area. We had heard nothing about Syria and could not 
understand why French troops should be here. Another piece of 
information I got while interviewing the German paymaster in the administrative buildings was that some ships in the

bay contained British Prisoners from Syria. The true story to 
me quite up to the Gilbertian situations springing up in 
this war. The French in Syria had captured the 7th Coy of 
London Fusiliers and shipped them out as prisoners. They

 

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travelled by those ships to Salonika - then by train through Yugoslavia, 
Austria and Germany to Vichy France. When, after the armistice 
in Syria it was discovered that they had been shipped away we

stopped the release of French prisoners. They were eventually sent 
via Marseilles to Middle East. If ever there was a conducted tour 
of Europe and a lucky set of men they were. I have not yet 
touched on our sleeping gear. I had a waterproof sheet - a 
blanket and the blue hospital coat. Fortunately it was summer 
so it was no hardship. Others had all sorts of improvised gear 
the most favored being large pieces of heavy white silk torn 
from German parachutes on Crete. They made all sorts of things 
from bags to scarves but were likely to cause the Germans 
anger. They never got over the mauling their parachutists got 
on Crete. I mentioned earlier of the scarcity of books and the 
general practice of the owner of a book was to lend it only if 
he was given a different one to read himself. There were a

few packs of greasy cards and these helped lots to pass the time. 
The rest of the time other than attending lectures was passed in 
sleeping and for one I was rather glad of the rest. It was as far as 
my nerves were concerned very pleasant after the show 
of the past six months. I have mentioned the Camp Adjutant 
in passing. He was rather young and filled the role of interpreter as 
well - speaking fluent German. I think he was much too weak 
for the job and did not stand up to the Germans as much as possible. 
Still he did a fair job and really did not deserve the hard words 
thrown at him fo by others. His greatest mistake or failing was 
that he was completely lacking in tact and foolishly refused 
to pass on information. Keeping his knowledge to himself was 
very dangerous in the peculiar state of mind of most of 
the officers. As I told you before I became very unpopular 
with a lot of them when I insisted on a reasonable standard 
of cleanliness and self respect as could be obtained in the 
circumstances. Our Australian expression "they dropped 
their bundle" is the most apt. The bread store was across 
a road from our compound and just after dusk some hungry 
ones got in and raided it. This caused a night search about 
midnight of the other end of our block and as we missed it 
because I expect the Germans thought we had nothing to do with 
it. We had the laugh. It was very early in our stay that we had 
an experience of a Black Market. A lot of troops mainly Cypriots 
and Palestinians were taken out each morning to work at various 
places in the town and they brought in various items of food.

Occasionally the Germans used to raid them as they came back 
and confiscate the food but it was not normal. About six to 
7 every night they would approach our wire and the bargaining 
commence. I do not know who is the worst. A Cypriot an 
Arab or a Jew. Fantastic prices were paid for eggs and bread

and I know of a price equivalent to £1 sterling being paid 
for a tin of bully beef. This money was really not the 
property of the man who was using it. He had been a 

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Paymaster and was carrying hundreds of thousands of drachma
from his imprest account. Money being no object he broke
all the values as he was relatively a millionaire within
our circle and we poor ones never had a look in. He was
not the only one who was wealthy and the competition became
so fast and hard that we protested to the SBO who called a
meeting of seven officers and after a certain amount of very
acrimonious criticism fixed standard prices for all
articles. I am afraid I did not help my waning popularity
amongst the Englishmen by saying what I thought and that
useless loyalty was the keynote the whole saxxx scheme would fail.

I advocated complete refusal to buy until the vendors toed the
line but they were too hungry and selfish to agree. I knew
that two at least of those present were in funds. As I forecast
the xxx result was failure and two or three more abortive
meetings were held. Those of us who abided by the decisions
just lost out. I felt rather proud that to my knowledge no
Australians attempted to undermine the idea. I mentioned
[[ajams]] before. These came from the German canteen and were
reasonably cheap. As a lot of people did not like them I got
more than my share so I was lucky. The cigarettes were all
Greek and some brands were particularly good and were
reasonably plentiful until the Greek tobacco firms refused to
accept the occupied country marks that the Germans paid
them. Then the drought started. I cannot tell you of dates
but round about 15.7.41 strong rumours of our moving out started.
Firstly we packed and moved onto the parade ground where our
kit was searched. Most of the blue hospital coats were confiscated
but they missed mine and we were then moved to a smaller
area behind wire in another part of the camp and occupying
three barrack rooms without beds. On protesting about this
the SBU was told that it was to clean the barracks we
had occupied  and to debug and delouse the beds. A very
poor reason as the present barracks were if anything more
bug and flea ridden than anything we had had before
and no one for days slept inside. We all preferred sleeping
on the metal of the roadway between the blocks or in the
gutter. What would have been our troubles had the
weather been wet I dont know. Conditions here were
extremely bad - sanitation very archaic , water both drinking
and washing coming from two taps in the latrines and
dirt everywhere. It was a great wonder to me that we did
not all become lousy. Apart from the irritation of lice
they are responsible for typhus. I did - together with most
Australians a lot of sunbathing and this probably had
the result of keeping us cleaner than would otherwise
have been possible. Sleeping took up quite a lot of time
but in our waking moments we did all sorts of queer
things. Some talked - the lectures were continued but
they only took up about half an hour daily. One Englishman
395
was an artist and did very beautiful pencil sketches. He had
brought a sketch book with him. I got him to give me some tips
and did a couple of drawings in a small notebook I had.
They took me days under his tuition s I had to start time and 
time again. Here they are for what they are worth but I didnot
keep it up. Sometimes I am sorry.

2 pencil drawings. 
1 of A WINDOW OF THE BARRACK BLOCK 19.7.41 SALONIKA

1 of a DOORWAY OF BARRACK BLOCK SALONIKA 22.7.41
See original.

396

Our situation  outside was rendered unpleasant by dust storms
but it took later happenings just before we left to force us inside.
It was here that the Greek Red Cross sent us in some food and
I need hardly repeat that it was more than welcomed for by
this time hunger was a constant companion. I think that now
the question of escapes must come in as the results are part of the
general picture of this hell camp. Most of us canvassed  at one
time or other the question of escaping but lacked contacts with
civilians outside and the great majority of us were physically
unfit both from lack of food, weakness caused by this and
dysentery. One or two officers generally had a couple of attempts
such as going out in a water truck but they were unsuccessful
ad were not as far as I remember discovered by the Germans.
Most of the attempts were made by troops and I have no doubt
some were successful. Cooper of 7 Bn had a good scheme
going with a number of others and should have got away but
the RAC Sgt previously mentioned was suspected of giving
it away and it was only by the skin of their teeth that they
discovered that Germans were waiting at the east of their
escape hole to bump them off. Another attempt did not end
so happily. Palestinians when out working had made their
contacts and were leaving the camp by going through a corner|
of the wire during the night. Again the R.A.C Sgt was suspected
of knowledge and of giving the game away. During the night we
were awakened by shots flying around and next morning found
that four of the escapees had been killed. The Germans not content
with preventing the escape had waited until they were scaling the 
wire and then opened fire killing two there. They then swept
the parade ground as the others ran to safety and got
two more. 20 crown this they left the bodies lie all day
as a warning - allowing no one to go near them. It was
for this needless cruelty that the German Feld Webel was
put on our black list of criminals. Later I heard he
was killed on the eastern front and so escaped our
justice. Everyone like this was kept track of. The guards
were now very touchy and during the night shots
whistled up and down our sheets so that it became
too risky to sleep out. Protests were unavailing and all
the Germans did was to advise sleeping inside and not
to move about. After a couple of nights of this we took their
advice and moved in amongst the bugs. Part of our
amusement consisted of digging them out of holes in the
wall and cracks in the floor. Sleeping inside was safer
but as the weather was now considerably warmer by no
means comfortable as well as fighting bugs who were
legion and vicious. Again strange to say and fortunately
for me they left me severely alone. A couple of points I
have missed. About halfway through our stay any
officer with an Irish name was taken away and later
we learnt they went to a propaganda camp outside Berlin
or Irish parents.
397
where they were given good food, good treatment and the idea
being to do as was done last war to wean them from their
allegiance and use them to aid the Germans. B'Olynn of 7 Bn
and another Australian were sent and came back to us in Lűbeck
The Germans were singularly unsuccessful. Olive oil was of great
value and was used for frying Greek biscuits and making
them soft and palatable. Full was like diamonds and the
use of fires prohibited by the Germans so that many expedients
usually of making a fire in a small tin inside the barracks
used. Fortunately the Germans did not come around very
often but there was a great scatter in a bathroom once.
None of the baths ever worked so they were used as a
fireplace because the doors shut. Some of the few that were
left after we finished. There were many rumours and
false alarms of movement before the actual day and once or
twice we paraded to move out. Finally the last parade
came and we were issued with train rations. The official
advice was that these were to last 4 days and consisted of 2 tins
of German meat about the size of  3/4 of a large condensed milk
tin, half a loaf of bread and six biscuits each. There were
some broken biscuits over which were also shared out. We all
thought we were on clover as we had not seen so much food
for a long time. Values change. Russ Godby was taken from us
to act as medical officer with the Cypriots in another column and
as he had no money I gave him half of my marks - four each.
As I had no opportunity of spending mine I do not expect he
did either. I am wrong. I spent two on the way. We marched
out to the station along the same route as we came in and this
time I had no doubt about the ladies of easy virtue who were
now entertaining Germans. One was truthfully the scarlet woman
as she hung out of a window in a bright scarlet slip. I think
that was all she was wearing. We entrained again in trucks
of approximately 25 to a truck and after a long wait left
about dusk for an unknown destination. I think the best
 thing to do abut the journey is to give you our route first
and then my comments. We had no maps and this list has
been compiled since and only consists of towns which I
could correctly locate. These are the towns we passed 
enroute. GREECE Left Salonika evening of 22.7.41. During
the night entered JUGO SLAVIA and on 23.7.41. passed
through VELES and SKOPLJE. On the 24th we stopped at
BELGRAVE at the station just outside called TOPCIDER and
 xxxx alledgely the station for the royal train. We
continued the journey and passed MITROVICA and VINKOVCI.

On 25.7.41 ZAGREB or as sometimes called AGRAM. On
26.7.41 MARBURG. After this town we crossed the Austrian
border marked by a concrete anti. tank defence consisting
of piles set into the ground at an angle and conical concrete
blocks as well as an anti tank ditch in places. Of course
we could not see far. We then passed through GRAZ,

398
and LEOBEN. On 27.7.41 BISHOPS HOFEN, RADSTADT, near
BERCHTESGARTEN, SALZBURG and then crossed into Austrian

_ German frontier at the river SALZAC. Then MUHLDORF
and a halt at LANDSHUT. - REGENSBERG and crossed the
Danube. NUREMBERG was the last big city this day. On
28.7.41 we passed through LEIPZIC, BITTERFELD, stopped 
at LUCHENWALD where the Cypriots and Palestinians were
detrained. As I told you Russ Godby was the medical officer
to this party and this was my very last sight of him. We continued
on and passed near BERLIN through WANSEE and saw the
river SPREE. During the night we passed through HAMBURG
and on the morning of 29.7.41 we arrived at LUBECK after
being nearly eight days instead of four on the journey and
making our good position precarious. Now for general things
about the journey which stays in my mind as the worst
journey I have ever had. Wicking was with me and we
joined forces in making our rations sin out. the really
cruel thing imposed on us by the Germans was the refusal
to let us out for natural functions and these were
aggravated to an unusual extent by the general sickness
either dysentery or diarohia. (I can't spell it) The train did
not stop for over 24 hours and we were in  a condition of
agony. impotence and anger. There was no method of getting
in touch with the Germans and many expedients were necessary
mainly in sacrificing mess tins. No such thought as placing
large tins or buckets in each truck occurred tot he Germans.
Even after the Germans had been prevailed upon to stop
the trains twice a day for necessary halts all our tiny tins
(again I stress that they were smaller than a condensed milk
tin) she saved as they were emptied. Conditions rapidly
became extremely unpleasant and tempers of some broke
under the strain. Catchlove one of our officers in my carriage
was extremely ill with dystentery and finally I had to speak
very sharply to two very dumb Englishmen with no sympathy
and relatively fit. That of course did not improve tempers
frayed by conditions and the extremely hot weather. Water
also was extremely scarce and could only be obtained
through the good graces of guards or wandering station
employees whenever we stopped in a good yard. We
were able to buy some cigarettes near Belgrade and this only
by our guard outside an Austrian calling a Serb over.
Looking back on this journey my imagination pictures
the rather funny sight of the rush from the train at a
halt to the side of the track and the 1000 or more
bare bodies along the whole length for most of us were
only wearing shorts. Sleep was very uncomfortable and
I used the blue hospital coat as a pad under my tail
but even then I got corns. Any restless sleepers were
highly unpopular and the night was enlivened by
somebody struggling to the window in a swaying train.
I leave it to your imagination to decide why. There were
399
a couple of books under the carriage but these did not last long as
paper was an urgent consideration and necessity. The halt
at Topcider was one devoted to washing sanitation and
cleaning of trucks and the Serbian Red Cross arrived and
distributed two of their biscuits which were even harder than
Greek and seemed to be made of flour water and concrete, five
cigarettes and another tin of meat per man. I am not complaining
of the biscuits but only trying to describe them and it was
very wonderful of them. About ten officers collapsed on this
station and were taken to a hospital at Belgrade . Sid Lynn
an Englishman and later one of my very good friends left us
here and we met again at Spangenburg. The latrines were
archaic consisting of the rail and a hole but i lost a lot of
my prudishness under necessity particularly as the Serbian
woman helpers were constantly passing by. As they seemed
not to worry - well neither did I. Our next washing halt
was at Landshut where German Red Cross helpers supplied a
bowl of thin pea soup but very hot and acceptable. After this
we were allowed to walk about 100 yards to some railway
workers lavatories and to wash at a couple of taps - naturally
replenishing our water bottles. Catchlove caused me a lot of worry
on this trip as he was by far the worst case and could only see the 
doctor at our infrequent halts. He should have stayed at Belgrade
but was feeling and looking better and only became worse as
further into Germany. He went into the camp hospital at
Lűbeck as soon as he arrived and was there really all the time.
We were there developing diptheria in his weakened state. I certainly
had a conducted sight seeing tour of Europe through the narrow
slit of our goods [[?]][[?]] cattle truck and stood up looking at
the countryside most of the day. Some of the country was beautiful
that around and near Berchtesgarten being particularly marvellous.
I should give pride of place to Austria and would like to take
you for a holiday travelling through it. There was evidence
of much rain in Germany - most of the crops were flattened
and black and we had hopes of a harvest failure. The
farmers with us though said it would not affect the grain.
Just before we arrived at Lűbeck clouds rolled up an it
drizzled off and on but most of our stay there was in
good weather. I shaved three or four times during the journey
and as soon as we could wee we were reaching the end of
the journey I sacrificed some of my precious water and
had a dangerous shave and wash in the swaying train
for I would not appear before any German civilians with
a two or three day stubble. As I said before we arrived at
Lűbeck on 29.7.41 about 9 oclock or a little earlier.
The station was a large glass covered dome and after
picking up our possessions we moved out into the street
along which trams were running. About twenty officers
were now so weak that they had to be supported
including Catchlove. It was apparently just the time
for office crowds and we were looked over by them in

400
what seemed a curious way. They seemed either
incurious or cowed or sullen or something for there was
a complete lack of interest - either sympathetic or angry
We rater suspected we would be met with the stories of the so called
maiming of wounded by us in Crete. I am not certain
whether I mentioned this previously but the German
Command on Crete dropped an ill printed and ill
written leaflet in English threatening all sorts of penalties
Actually the Cretans  did do some cutting off of noses and ears
and the Australians and New Zealanders were blamed. The
error was found out in Crete but never corrected and we
were warned by some German privates who were practicing
their English at Athens what to expect. They were partly right
as our treatment gradually became worse as we moved
down the lines of communication away from fighting troops
and into the care of base troops. I told you that we only
took three prisoners at Suda Bay in our charge. Theo
told me that his photograph appeared in some German
papers as the Australian Colonel whose men did not take
prisoners. Another thing he told me was that when a German
parachute Colonel was questioning him on this subject he
convinced him that we had acted within the rules of war
and then decided the unasked testimonial that we
were the best troops his men had struck.
LUBECK. We marched out of the town along the tree lined streets and
on towards the outskirts. After passing a cemetery and marching
about 2 1/2 miles at a very slow pace we came to Oflag 7 C although
we did not know that until after we got inside. It was next to
what signboards told us was the Headquarters of a German
Artillery Regiment complete with two storey barracks and
the whole situated amongst cultivated fields just outside the
city. We did not go directly into our camp but were marched
into the barrack area and broke off into a large garage covered
with palliasis. There we were able to have a much needed wash
and were fallen in whilst the Commandant made and inspection.
We had been fallen in by countries and all the Australians 
were together. He seemed a very nice old man then and
keenly interested in everything and the general opinion was
favourable towards him because he was the first German
Officer to bother to look at us. The impression did not last.
After that some French appeared as a fatigue party bearing
food and never had we seen so much. Bread sausage
and handfuls of potato and some soup were handed out
and we all thought heaven had opened. They seemed so
generous. Following this the sick were taken away to the
camp hospital which was outside the camp area. and in a 
compound by itself. The rest were formed up in lots of twenty
and we were to go through to delousing and bath house.
All the journeying had taken sometime and each batch took
401
well over an hour to go through the bath house. Finally my turn
came and we went through the wire into the bath house. There we
emptied all our pockets and took photos and anything else that steam
would injure out and placed them in a heap and those were put
in a pigeonhole and a numbered tag given us. Then into an
undressing room where we hung blankets shirts, greatcoats in
fact all clothing on a special coathanger and we were left naked.
The hangers were hung onto a trolley taking ten bundles and
pushed away into the delousing machine. There they were subjected
to hot steam to kill any lice and then brought out fr drying and
the second batch put through. During this time the first batch 
had entered the shower room, been served out with some anti septic
jelly soap and had a thorough wash. This of course was repeated
for the second batch and we all entered a warm room to dry
off. There we were presented with a  form to fill in mainly
questions which could be correctly answered about name
rank - mothers and fathers name next of kin etc but we
refused to give units - which cannot be enforced under Rules
of War and the Geneva Convention. After this form had been
filled in we went still naked into another room where
the form was taken, our record card made out and my
prisoner of war no 3317 and identity disc given me.
I then had my finger prints taken and placed on my record card.
After that I dressed and collected by gear and the valuables
we had parked and were then taken back through the wire in
another direction to another hugh shed where we were put
through a most thorough search. Fountain pens, watches, renp
money, lighters etc were taken and held in the German store
and a receipt given. All articles of equipment  - that is
army equipment were confiscated and later we learnt
some of it incorrectly and I lost my waterbottle and
ground sheet. Another thing they took which annoyed me
intensely was part of a Greek biscuit I had saved and
all my self denial went for nothing. Some officers had money
secreted in the hems of their trousers but if any was found
like this it was confiscated. One man lost over £50 English.
It was rather surprising that right through Germany different
searches in different camps wanted to confiscate different
things. What could be obtained in a canteen in one camp
might be confiscated in the next. We were to new as prisoners
to know the ropes and I feel now that the rode roughshod
over us. When they had finished I had fewer possessions
having lost my haversack as well and we were finally
passed through the wire into a large hut with two tier
beds and one blanket on them. German issue blankets
to prisoners of war have to be seen to be believed. They are
very small and very thin and I do not think made of
wool but of one of their synthetic manufactures.  Keiths

Travis and I were sharing our sausage and had saved

402
it for the evening meal. He was unfortunately in the next
batch through the showers and did not come that night
but first in the morning. I still had some bread so
had dry bread fr supper. It did not matter much for
we had not been issued with margarine so it was more
a physiological loss than actual. I slept well and next
day the balance were deloused and the Germans allotted
us to huts by rank. There were four Australian majors
Travis, myself, Probyn and Steagney from West australia.
We stuck together and were put into a room for four with
another room for two opening out of it and taken by two
Englishmen. There were other Australian majors but they had
formed contacts and went to other huts. We were first into our
hut and made a tour of the rooms before anyone else and
got as much stores such as brooms as we needed. From
the traces the camp had previously been occupied by French.
The grounds within the camp had been laid out with lawns
and gardens and look really inviting. One bed of pansies
was the best I have ever seen and the largest blooms as
well. I must remember to tell you that just after we had
arrived in a hut French private poked his head in the
door and dropped something and as quickly went out. On
looking we found a packet of 20 French cigarettes which
were justly appreciated when shared out. Our beds were
two tier on iron bedsteads with wooden bedboards
on top of which was a palliase partially filled with
woodwool and a pillow of the same sort. One thin German
blanket was the issue. A couple of days after we were
surprised to receive an issue of the green check palliasse
cover like a big bag and a pillow case which made
things very much easier. Combined with my own blanket
and a greatcoat when necessary and no pyjamas I was
not so badly off. Our rations did not live up to our first
meal. They consisted of one meal of frightfully thin soup
from the German run cookhouse varied once a week
by a fish meal and potatoes added to this was 1/5 loaf
of brown Bread - about 3/4 "of sausage 1" in diameter and
a small piece of margarine. Drain now on food was
a major consideration and had a lot to do with
showing the human nature in the raw and disgust my
Iie with my fellow prisoners particularly Englishmen.
Meals and rations became an absolute terror to me.
Breakfast consisted of mint tea and any bread over from
the days issue. Lunch consisted of either soup or fish and
potatoes and it was absolute hell as everyone watched the
distribution with hawk eyes to see that no one got a greater
share. It usually meant that no one liked sharing out
and when someone volunteered it was a thankless
task for nearly always someone complained that he
had not had his share. We were not allowed to

403
sit at the same table all the time with the same people but
had to fill the tables as we entered. A number of men soon
achieved an unenviable reputation for greed and unfairness
and were constantly being reprimanded by someone for
underhand work. And you could not dodge them. The
fish known as  "Klipfisch" was a dried cod and had
the most objectionable smell and was badly cooked.I
believe but have never tasted it well cooked that it can
be but we were only prisoners and anything did for us
as far as the German cooks were concerned. We were at 
Lűbeck for three months and it took two months hard
work before we were allowed to run the cookhouse
ourselves and to kick ^^out the German cooks who we
were certain were getting away with some of our rations.
The cooking was just on the upgrade when we left. It was
usual to keep half our small issue of potatoes until
night when we had our second meal of the day from
the dry issue. In each room was a heating stove which
was useless for cooking but the French had made little
stores of German jam this which are about 3/4 of the
size of a petrol tin. I used to heat water in a small tin
over a fire made in another tin. Fuel was not issued and
we had to use any sticks around the place, bedboards
until they were counted and bark. I shall tell you the
story of the bark later. We finally got a broken French
manufactured stove and I repaired it, made a grate out 
of some reinforced concrete bars lying around and
believe me the twisting took some doing. We got hold 
of some tins in which the ration sausage came and
I made a flue leading into the heating stove through
the fuel entrance. This allowed us a greater ability
to cook provided we could obtain the fuel. I seem to have
wandered from the point a little. Midday meal and saving half
the potatoes. When the canteen functioned we were able to buy fair
quantities of salted small fish. What they were I do not know
but between them we washed them took out the backbones and
i chopped them up - mashed the remaining potatoes and
either made rissoles or steamed fish pie. Breadcrumbs from
bread toasted helped the rissoles. We were also able to get a
quantity of soup extract and evening meal usually consisted
of soup and our mainstay. Breakfast depended on whether I or
anyone else for that matter had any bread left. We were always
so hungry that I seldom did and existed on a mug of meat
tea until lunch time. Tuesday Klipfisch day was a very
bad one for me, many times the German cooked soup was
almost uneatable - slabs of swede turnip the full size of the
vegetable floating in some hot water became quite common.
Our first meal was no criterion of what the camp turned
out to be. I sometimes feel that the German cooks ran
the place for after repeated protests the Commandant agreed