| Notes: | CMP. Enlisted in to CMP. Casualty List 283, BEF, France, missing, 10/5 as missing. Casualty List 331, BEF, France, previously shown on List 283 as missing, now POW. Casualty List 405, BEF, France, previously reported at POW not now POW, Escaped, Previous List 331, escaped POW. From Clapham Junction SW11. Born 23/12/1899. |
| Citation: | Captured May 26th 1940. Escaped May 28th 1940. Left Gibraltar 7th Dec 1940. Arrived London 14th Dec 1940. Private Address: 21 Sangood Road, Clapham Junction, SW11. Length of Army Service: Five years, 9 months. Profession in peacetime: Commercial Traveller.CAPTURE I was taken prisoner at CALAIS when that town was taken by the Germans. After being rounded up we were taken to GUISNES, and, on May 28th, I managed to slip out of the column of prisoners into a wood with a French officer, with whom I spent two weeks in the vicinity.,ESCAPE After that we made our way South through ABBEVILLE, LE TREPORT, DIEPPE, ST. VALERY, BALSEC, LE HAVRE, QUILEBEUF (where we stole two bicycles) PONT ANDEMAR, MAYENDCE, NANTES (here there were A.A.guns on all the bridges, PARTEMAY, PERIGUEUX and CANTMERIE where the French officer left me. At STELLA PLAGE near St. VALERY a driver in the R.A.S.C. who had joined me helped me to make a raft out of a bathing machine and some wire which we cut out of a German telephone line. We launched this but the incoming tide prevented us from getting away from the shore. At CEVRAY I crossed into unoccupied France, walking past the German post, clearly indicated by a large Swastika flag. I decided to make for SPAIN and got across the Pyrenees and down to the Spanish Village of TORLA, but was here arrested by Spanish guards who took me back to GAVARNIE in France. I was later taken to ST. GIRONS and spent three days in the town jail before going on to the concentration camp at MONDERRAN-SAVES. After a month I again managed to get away. I reached the coast at SE??? And got on a ship bound for ORAN, but I was discovered before the boat sailed and 'kicked' off. I then went on to MARSEILLES, and, after six days with the Rev. Caskie at the Sailors Mission, boarded another ship disguised as a ship-wrecked sailor. On arrival at ORAN I was sent up to the D.I.N., where I joined other British personnel and received good treatment. I stayed there a week and then escaped in the company of a small party of demobilised Legionnaires for CASABLANCA, which was reached on October 5th. At CASABLANCA with Major Potts and 11 O.R.'s, through the agency of Mr Bullen, Manager of the Vacuum Oil Company in that town. We were given the opportunity to embark on the "MAR ASUL" A Portuegese ship of about 300 tons. A friend of Mr Bullen's by the name of Hands, owned a house on the hill-side overlooking the docks, and, from one of the windows of the top story, we could make out the "MAR ASUL" lying along side the quay. Mr Bullen explained that it was up to each individual to make his own arrangements for getting on board. The dock area itself was surrounded by barbed wire, the two top strands were electrified. Three of the party (including myself) managed to crawl under this wire at night-time and the others came through the following day, at intervals by a small gate. I understood from Mr Bullen that the Captain of the "MAR ASUL" received the sum of 5,000 Frs. Per head for smuggling us out of CASABLANCA, He had made arrangements on board for hiding us in part of the front hatch, which was boarded off, and which we reached through a trap door cut in the floor of the crew's quarters. The vessel was searched before and after sailing but no one was discovered. Mr NATELER acted as intermediary between Mr Bullen and our party as, of course, it was extremely dangerous to be seen discussing plans. I was given to understand that a B.B.C. broadcast made by three British soldier, Ptes. Kemp, Wilson and Macdonald, gave the Germans warning of the number of escapers making their way through Spain, and was instrumental in closing the frontier when the Poles had arranged to smuggle men over. Ptes C????? And Sw??? (of the Royal Corps of Signals) who were in our party, against the advice of the rest of us, gave their stories to a representative of the "Daily Express" at Gibraltar and also met a representative of the B.B.C. there. I consider that both these men should be watched as they have no scruples about publishing their experiences.Interviewed by M.I.9 on 17th December 1940M.I. 9./S/P.G. (F) 145.21.12.49. National Archive WO 373/60. |
