Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/77/1 - April - May 1917 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG1066843
Difficulty:
5

Page 1 / 10

of AM A SPORT. DVING GERMAN PRINCES CRATITUDE The Rev. M. Caldwell. C.F., minister of the Lewin-road Baptist Church, Streatham, is also the official chaplain to the German prisoners of war in general hospital, in France, and it fell to his lot to minister to the Kaiser’s nephew, Prince Friedrick Karl, the royal airman, who died there. The British Weekly quotes from the account sent home by Mr. Caldwell of his associa- tion with the dying man: I visited the Prince each day from his arrival on to his death. He took to me at once; and spoke freely about his capture and the treatment he had received at the hands of his captors. He said, I was doing important work for my commander when I was attacked by British acronants. McI was hit on my foot, and the pain was intense, but that was not my undoing My machine was hit in a vital part, and although I did my utmost to get back to my lines. I was compelled to descend in full view of the Australians. I saw, the predicament I would be in when I landed, so decided to burn my machine and run for it. The Australians were too clever for me, and gave me a warm time when I took to my heels. I had a sporting chance and took it, but I was not a winner. I felt a twitching sensation in my back, and fell forward, done for. The Australians, whose prisoner I became, treated me with the greatest kindness. They are sportsmen and great men. I have a wonderful admiration for them If I am anything, I am a sport. have played tennis with Wilding and other first-class players. I shall never forget the iolly time I had in England when I played them all X Butter has just come in wik a ogn spatgment from to men of th t Br that It was they whe gapt Prinse Frederick Cha les of Crression te aerman the not Light Horse. Ovite a serious matter Cpt. E.T. Powell (sworn) stated t be Sau Iair fight one &Law slaves by in to fall. He saw out pt Tanes tt Nomanstand following 1 plane. When it landed the ave Sot to out & began to lwds Serman Linco He then 1509ds away The fired lis at shots a bt 9010 as to ran towds it wS Lagnicourt Con March2
30 & Powell shot him side on. After Powells 3no shot the armman put his hands up & fell. Two men reshed out to take him prisoner one was the C.H. Hall Tust tam 2 or 3 hight. Horsemen gallope up I am anable to sae wheter Hall reached Prince before 1 Light Horsemen, but Hall had his Cap + gloves) & helpe carry him in. Hall aheao Light Horse but travelled facter PACH. Hall sd when Powell
18 31 To & fiied at the fices from the acroplone, one of sold bethin beh ran forward calleng for S.6.S. found the aveator lyin in a dumy Hall sd Goodday - who are you The aveator Ws poan + Sdsometin Hall took his cap + gloves, & then lghthorsemen iver. Hall valked away Abt 10 yes t have a sump ship The SeHorseman sel He is a prince I Hall set to walter what he is, be is a focts & the S.6s arecoming & will take him in if worth white The C Horse
186 32 wanted to claim him but Htall repied to let he 10 He put Ibandage the onh 56s arrive Hall beled to carry he down. A Staff captain wanted (bearers to towdls morchies but ty wdat go The cap + gloves are still cn possession- I gave te light horseman the me because he wanted somety an positive the tton arrised after I did. Prince asked ty name sd I as very your Iam 22yrs
18 33 Anto 6 n He to to te ws in cavalry before Te 1 Horseman took a statewas from but first refused to take it thought he wg a tea he the when 48 a func The we Die other day poo thap He gallant soldee was hetAnhations bed tcatehen t will te
18 I went to see 3no Bn. tn Little moore is a five soldies- very much like powell Price - a refined type of man, quiel, almost a sweet manner for a man, straight & clean + keen& as faras his talk with me soes, very frank & straight as towhat the Frotn does. Mudcds tnn. I took the correspt. a the of temps the Illestiation a Russian vewspaper to the took out point near Longatte The Russian very rcev to sesove voting. luck wo have it we passed some of the 54214 Bt voting Ovr new are
18 35 curious chaps. a lot of the 16Bn, who founed guare at corgs Head quarters, wand vote because ta sal they had bn too lovg away from Aust. er dont know that the election ws abt reall they didnt know enough I cxpent they had deceved to try ta only heard one side of hadnt they neation heart 1 other In the 32nd Bn. abo 700 voles because Beardiman therCas a been politinan and wrked them up but. In the nothing like 30t Bn
18 so many voted. The me sot they dibit really understand Ieaue I don't hink they very much cared. In the Did Bn man them were too slack abt it to take 1 trouble 475 out of 900 vole 9they wdnt have reach half to number their offes badnt p fot the to come along & vote ermans bday were still basting the Norcit valle for guns
18 we saw tem hir between DO 100 6 shells of 5.9 or more at a battery posity or an old baking positn, there ten gines of 1.100m. I can bear two tanks snoving up the rd half a wicl away use I know sown from th wornien at Norciil one tank arrived yeity up at Voulx. Oraucourt they told 2c- To May 2. Round with Murdoch all day a glorious five day On
3 men toronyby Enoyen overyhere. the ad Dions aback on Rrencourt is to come off tomorrow at last. The two Blles, 5th6 have been out for it pro ofeeding up & resting for week & practising as no allack by this crps has ever before tn pacti This evg as we came back canits we met the of them goen up to it - plation by pletoon one bruch of Engineers wre white take for deging trench there - White hair one ot compositors on th Sydney we Herald, wave

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