Diaries and documents of John Dominic Palandri - Part 12
July
30
Well, the men refused work this morning as
threatened, and Kommandant said S.M. McPhillips
had stayed at Stalag at his own request. This
satisfied about 50 who went off. The others, together
with camp-staff and light workers were lined up
5-deep outside barracks 4 & 6 and covered by two
machine-guns and about 40 rifles, then addressed
by Stalag officer and Head Man of Confidence who
repeated Kommandant's explanation, with details -
that McPhillips had been accused of helping escapes
and had refused to leave Stalag till faced by his
accuser and given a hearing. Looked ticklish
for a bit but to me, who was out of line of fire and
therefore not personally involved, it looked improbable
that Gerrys would fire, as, behind the ranks were
other guards, a much used railway system, and
houses and streets. But it must have looked
mighty different to those lads who were looking into
the muzzles of those guns. They were told that they
would have to make up lost time and go without
books or entertaintments till the Kommandant decided
otherwise.
The German Sanitater escorted me on my first
walk this afternoon
July 31
Nothing to report to-day - Read "Cradle of the
Storms" by Father Bernard Hubbard, S.J., all about
volcanic exploration in Alaska - very good.
August
1
Aug-Sep - Work slackened off ++
First batch of incapacitated
repats. left by hospital-ship (Italian)
? to Salonika with Alf Slater Rick Carter
Jamieson and Gray. Padre McConchie
& Hiddleston. Leo Reddy took notes.
Medical officers moved in from Con.
Camp. More escapes from hospital
with easy treatment of those recaptured.
Officers moved to A2 and joined Mess
there. Evening suppers ++
Heavy air-raid at Zator especially
in early Sep - much damage.
Regular mail to 26th G.H.
1942 - Put the Camp through louse-inspection to-day - high
percentage of infestation.
August
2
1941
Ines's birthday.
Feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori
1942 Sunday
Quite busy to-day. Lice-inspection on patients
in Revier, Talked to a parade of whole camp on
dangers of lice and precautions to be taken, and
told them that, though I might overlook a mild
degree of infestation on 2nd inspection, anyone offending
on 3rd would be reported to Kommandant.
Spent rest of day checking over Barrack roles
with Barrack S.Ms., and then worked out the
statistics at night. Found that 39.35% of men
in camp were infested - Some figure!
Noticed a recurrence of oedema of ankles
which I had at 119, must get going on.
Vitamins again. They cleared it up the last time.
August
3
Saw S.M., Camp Head, worked out plan for
disinfestation of men & quarters, and presented
it and statistics to Kommandant in his office.
He later came to my room, and through the
Sanitater, reproved me for resting my foot on a
chair when addressing him, the Camp-Kommandant!
O.K!!
Lot of stuff going West online.
Stabsarzt Dommels visited Camp to-day and
checked over new men on last night's sick-parade.
Passed them all. The Kommandant insists on
formality with him, but, though quite correct
himself in externals, will not pay me the
courtesy of trusting my sick-report, even though
Stabsarzt Dommels has confirmed them twice.
Rumours of further British landings in
France and Belgium.
[*5*]
August
4
Today is the 28th anniversary of the Empire's entry into the
last war.
Slept in very late to-day, eventually finished dressing as
the first working-party came in. Legs were in good trim when
I got up
Must try sleeping-in again, as to-day five letters arrived, three
from Glad, one from Ron Worthy, and one from Geneva. Those
from Glad were dated Feb 14th, and March 4th & 23rd. First noted
my first letter from VII B, reposted, besides clothing parcel, several fag
parcels on way, Dr. Mine doing well, Bunny Wilson on way home with
tummy trouble, - David walking, and all three fine and John going to class
at school. Second contains hint of anxiety of happenings in the North,
exodus of several acquaintances from town, Ernie Buch doing the kids
with TAB, Father Jerry O'Callaghan back home with stories of our last
meetings in Crete, and, best of all, another photo of Glad & David, companion
to the one I have framed. It's better than that one, if anything, David
looks Grand, and Glad absolutely gorgeous. She's the sweetest-looking
thing. In the third John is "quite a man" plenty of sense, but a bit
naughty at times, bless him. Mark's a darling and a bully, and David
a gem - Aren't they grand! A week-end at Kalamunda, but no talk
of a shift. Frank Wallace same as ever, no news from Jack Throssell,
probably "in the bag". Nell at St. John's still, only 5st 7lbs, but
improving. Poor kid. Staying on till she's 7st.. Glad loves me still &
more than ever. Gee! Thank heaven I've been a good boy, and hope
to continue so. She's wonderful. A small snap of Glad far from
does her justice. - Ron's (April 5th) said he had received mine of
Jan 23rd, in RAF, instructor soon, very cheerful, and asks if there's anything
I want. - Fonds Europēen de Secours aux Etudiants anounces sending of
several books.
[*4P.*]
August
5
Up early to go with Sanitater to Spandau West re specs.. Just
before going took delivery of four parcels from Geneva, one contained
"c"-cap, but size 7¼ only, and, as I've long since recovered my own,
I gave the new one to S.M., head of camp, to pass on to someone who
needs it. The other parcels contained the books mentioned in the
letter of yesterday - 3 vols. of Cunningham's Anatomy, French Grammar,
and E - Italian, E - French, and E - German dictionaries. I'm becoming
stocked up at last.
Had jolly good game of Bridge this afternoon with head of
camp, S.M. , Ellis the store-man, jolly nice lad,
and a hard nut named Gowrie, of the Black Watch, funny
as a play, but quite good at the game.
Getting quite a few of what, clinically, are recurrences
of malaria, and one lad who appears to be an acute
endocarditis, vegetative, apparently affecting aortic valve mainly.
He had rheumatic fever at age of 12, and hes about yrs.
of age now.
[*4*]
August
6
Quiet day again. German guard and one of our lads
made me a book rest for working at my table during
the afternoon, so that I was able to do the first ten
pages of Head and Neck later.
Had a rotten job during the evening of breaking the
news to one of the lads that his sputum test had come
back positive for Tb. His name is Clifford, clinically
it is a right apical lesion, and, if they can get him
away to a Sanatorium quickly, and he's a fit case
for A.P., he should do well. He's in quite good condition
physically.
Wrote a number of letters this evening, one to Ron, in
which I asked him to send me gloves and cap, card to Mr. Troy
and another to Red Cross thanking them for the cap, and
another card to the European Student Relief Fund
acknowledging the receipt of and thanking them for the
books which arrived yesterday
Spent about two hours of the morning shaving my
body and limbs completely, and, as I experienced the
first time, it's damned uncomfortable with the hair off,
prickly and 'sticky', as hair allows opposed surfaces
to move freely.
[*4*]
August
7
Wrote four more letters this morning, to Glad, to Mum & Dad,
to Ines, and a card to Red Cross asking for Nico's address.
Spent the afternoon playing a few games of chess with
S.M. Woodfine of the Welsh, awfully decent chap, who gave
me my first tips a couple of days ago, only a beginner
himself. Meant to play again in evening, but had
no time.
Looked over results of men who had been to dental
treatment to-day - some had had extractions by English
corporal dental-mechanic, others fillings by German
gefreiter, who must be a dentist. Dentures seem to be an
impossibility due partly to scarcity of materials, and
partly to the terrific prices, which the men cannot raise.
We'll have to approach the Red Cross to see whether they
can get us the materials from the English Government.
Did some more anatomy, up to P. 20 of Head & Neck
now.
August
8
Nothing to report but the holding of another louse-inspection
with much improved results & the news that there are to be
both Catholic and C. of E. Church Parades To-morrow.
Sunday
August
9
Father Scarborough came this morning and I
served 10 o'clock Mass - General Absolution (Confession
not permitted) and Communion - A few hymns
interrupted afterwards by the Commandant who was
stamping about in the hall insisting that we hurry. No
one allowed to speak to Father at all - grand show!
Freedom of worship, my eye!! Same with Bill Hurst who
conducted the C. of E. service immediately afterwards.
Rest of day uneventful - am reading Robert Graves
book on Count Belisarius, which is most interesting.
Gowrie and I took other two on at Bridge again, and
had our second handsome win.
August
10
Slept in morning and most of afternoon, ankles
still a bit swollen. Kommandant came in at
about midday to say something about arrangements
for delousing, which I only half understood - still
almost asleep.
Worked out infestation figure for Camp on
Saturday's examination - 25%
August
11
Up at reasonable hour, did my work, and
then began a game of chess with Green, one of the men.
I've just begun to learn and find it extremely
interesting, though much too difficult for my intellect.
Game was so absorbing that at 3 o'clock my orderly,
Smith, came in to tell me that Hewitt was still
waiting to give me lunch, and that the guard he
had arranged for had been waiting since 2 o'clock
to take us on our walk! Just like me!
Had our walk past the local 'drome, and found
it quite hot.
August
12
No news. Browned off with this existence, as usual.
Don't know how the lads taken from France feel, and
hate to think of the Old Contemptible POW's of the
last "do" and what their state of mind must have
been after four years. Maybe I'll know when I've
finished my sentence. Wonder whether the German
High Command has read the clauses in the Convention
relating to Medical Ps.O.W.
Had a game of bridge with Howland, Ellis, and
Gowrie, and Gowrie & I got it in the neck for a
change. Received a frame for my second photo of
Glad and David, and it suits them very well. How
much longer must I be satisfied with photos
August
13
Two of the lads pushed off last night, and the
Kommandant remarked that, judging by the size of
the hole they left in the wire, they must have departed
in a Tank. Authorities seem to have smelt a rat
last night, judging by the care with which they
checked the roll-call, and questions are being asked
amongst the men as to the nature of the source of their
information.
Played Bridge again to-day, and we had a
win to make up for our last defeat. Kommandant
came in during the play, told me that my letter to Rana
had been held up, but that Stalag informed him that
I could be supplied a uniform by them.
August
14
Nothing of note - news that delousing is to take place
on Monday during fumigation of barracks. S/M. Woodfine
beat me two games of Chess this afternoon
Having hell of a job to get drugs and supplies,
short of practically everything, and there seems to be even
more red-tape in the local forces than there is in ours.
Same difficulty exists regarding arranging for dental
treatment, and maybe it's partly due to the Sanitater.
He's a nice chap, obliging and willing, but has a total
lack of "push".
August
15
Nothing doing to-day. Bit fed-up as
usual
August
16
Commenced louse-inspection at about 10 a.m. and
when the greater part of it was finished, we were
interrupted by the air-raid alarm. Nothing came of
it, however, much to our disappointment, but we took
advantage of the break to have lunch, then finished
the job in hand.
August
17
Up at 4.30, whole camp and barracks vacated
by about 5.30, ready for their disinfestation. The
single window in each room left unsealed yesterday,
and the doors, were closed after the team had
lighter their "candles" and, at about 8 a.m., the first
truck-loads went off to the "delouser". The last of
us got back between 2.30 and 3.0 p.m., and
loafed and slept until the barracks were sufficiently
aired for occupation. They still smelled of the stuff
and it was more than heavy on eyes, nose, and
throat - Blankets were all put out on the grass
to air, and, by night-time, it was not too bad.
For the last couple of weeks there has been in
camp each day an old chap, 73 years of age, putting
in a spot of extra work during his holidays from his
regular job - he's been scything the grass, and
making a fair job of it. Poor old b—r! Hope
Dad has better luck when he reaches his years.
August
18
Off to Stalag this morning with the store-man to
arrange about my coveted uniform, only to find, as
I half- expected, that the "uniform" is battle-dress
and nothing else. No word against battle-dress, it's
excellent, but I would like a regulation rig-out.
I satisfied myself with an exchange of my old jacket
for a new one, no new trousers being available.
On the trip in I spoke to a Calabrese, and he was
pretty much fed up with things. Two French lasses
entered our carriage at Spandau West, both young,
one reasonably good-looking, and far from shy.
I may be doing her an injustice, but I think she is
of the same profession as most of the French girls now
in Germany. To speak to a lass again is too
damned unsettling - wish I were home with Glad
again, God bless her. She's marvellous, and she loves
me still.
Sunday's louse-figures were 20%, and I sent in
a list of 26 to the Kommandant for punishment for
continued infestation. He proposes giving them a room
on their own
Helen MartinThis transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
This lock will be automatically released after 60 minutes of inactivity.