大象传媒

Dear Son,
I will try and write some of my experiences in occupied France and Germany.
On the night of June 6th I was boarding a plane somewhere in England, we took off from the aerodrome at approximately 11 o'clock in the evening. The planes taxied around the drome, then we picked up fighter escort. We crossed the channel around middnight and there I saw one of the best sights aanyone would wish to see. It was the fleet underneath making their way across the channel towards France, and you could see the white spray shooting away from the sides of the boats. When we reached the coast of France, the planes carried farther along the coast and then they dropped their load of bombs. As soon as the bombs went the ack-ack started to come up and what an experience , I was s*** scared. We then turned inland and got them two famous words (running in) which meant that we had a few minutes to get ready before we jumped.
At last we got the words action stations, and the sweat was pouring down my face and outside the ack-ack still coming up to-wards us. I was no'3. in the plane and when we got the word go I was out like a two year old. It did not seem like five in the air before I hit what I thought was the deck, but instead it was a tree. After coming back to consciousness I then started to make my way back to-wards what I thought was my own lines.
On my way I exchanged shots with a few Germans who where turned out to look for us. I then picked up a couple of our fellows about five in the morning, and there we got our maps out to try and locate where we where, and eventually we found oursleves on one of the maps approximately twenty to thirty miles from the original place.
Well son, I don't know if this is boring you, but there is quite a lot more to write.
Once again, we started on out way towards Caen. And after travelling nearly all day and still exchanging shots and dodging jerry, we eventually came across a farm which we thought was neutral.
We made our way up towards the front door, but when we were still quite a few yards away from it, two jerry's and an Italian soldier came out. Of course the I-Tie tried to run away but we all blazed at him and he did not stand a chance.
We then took the two jerries prisoners and tied them to a tree, we were going to shoot them but later on found that they were medical and were looking after a Canadian Parachutist who had been shot right through both knees, so we had to let go because we could not give him medical treatment. We then carried on our way again but did not go far before we met some french civilians who told us where to find some of our own chaps.
It was not long after leaving these frenchmen that we came aross the German S.S troops who were being led by the same frenchman and who were pointing to where we where. Of course a little battle started but we were out numbered and one of our three got shot in the hand and the other got injured in the leg.
They then told me to get away which i did but it only lasted a couple of hours beore I was captured and met up with these two fellows again.
They then took us to a care and tied up our hands and slung us down into the care. We were left their for twenty four hoursin which time they took my wallet, money, photos and watch. They then interrogated and sent us to Pont-Evant, where we met some French sabotuers who were waiting to be shot.
A fellw by the name of Sutton tried to escape but was shot to the bank. They also threatened ten more of our N.C.O's if any more men tried to escape. It was five days before we recieved any food and when we did manage to get some we devoured it in no time.On the day that we recieved food we went farther inland to a place called Uerneul where we were once again interrrogated and given some more food, which was 1/4 of a loaf and some green water which was supposed to be soup. After staying there a few days we startied off towards Ghartres which was a Dulag for Black men.
We were only in Ghartres a couple of weeks but during that time we had another rotten experience. There were six hundred of us locked in one room, and we had to eat, sleep, and go to the lavator all in the same place. The sleeping accomodation was just a stone floor with straw laid on top. We were not allowed out of the building for fresh air, instead the Blackies use to bring our food and water in and then the door was locked. We had to wash and shave in our own drinking water, and you can imagine the number of people who never washed or shaved.
From Ghartres we moved to Ghalons on the Marne which was just the other side of Paris and then from Paris by train to Ghalons.
When we arrived in Paris we had to march through the city and we were mobbed, kicked, and spat at by the different naionalities that were there.We were then placed into cattle trucks, about forty or fifty men in a cattle truckand transported of to Ghalons. It took us five days to get to Ghalons which was ony a few hours journey away. All we had for those five days was a loaf of bred and a tin of meat and no water.Quite a few time while we were on the train the planes came over and straifed and bombed the railway lines. When we did eventually reach Ghalons we were marched though the town, but were treated with a little bit of respect by the people staying there. Some of them were giving the N. sign on the quite but they all seemed quite and scared to come near us.
Ghalons was the first place where I recieved a Red Cross parcel but that parcel was between the three of us. They also tried to bribe us with food out of a Red Cross parcel to give them infomation about our own troops, but it did not seem to work.
We were only in Ghalons a couple of weeks and the food was approximately 250g of bread and a ladle of soup a day. We also got a cup of acorn coffee twice a day.
We then travelled across the German border into Lindberg where we were registered as prisoners of war. In Lindberg we were placed under canvass and there were 650 men in a marquee, and if you wanted to go to the lavortary during the night you had to step on the other chaps because they were so tightly packed.
The food was still the same there except for for a little variety, instead of cabbage soup we had potato soup. While we were at Lindberg which was Stalag 12a. We recieved a R.C parcel, but had to eat all of the parcel as we were leaving and could now take the food on the train. From there we went to Muhlberg (Stanag 4b) and met some old British Prisoners of war. Well son I must leave this letter for a little while as I've got an appointment to go to the pictures and have a little drink.
Well here we are, back again to this little book that I'm trying to write, I've enjoyed the pictures and I also had a few pints at the Bricklayers arms.
When we arrived at Muhlbergs they gave a parcel of food to every seven men which had to last us until Monday, which was only two days. When Monday arrived they gave us a parcel each and fifty cigarettes and told us that the parcels the following week were being knocked down to one parcel between two as they could not get the transport through to pick the parcels up. Well son I stayed at the cam for six weeks, during which time I learned all. The P.O.W rackets such as buying off of the jerrieds for cigarettes or even buying bread with chocolate, soap or cocoa.
After being in this camp for six weeks they deided that parachutists could go out to work, and so we went to a place called Seritz. Before we go to Sebritz I'll tell you the amusements that were at Muhlberg. For the price of a cigarette you could go and see a show put up by the lads themselves, and some of the shows were much better than the ones you saw in the West End. The fellows were acting as women and doing it quite well. We also had our own band.
There was always a football or rugby match going every day, and there was quite a few professionals amongst them.
Well son now we move over to Sebritz where we first started work. There where only forty five of us but they were all Parachuttst or Glider troops. It was a big paper factory that they move us into and twenty two of us worked in the factory and twenty one down at the station. The other two had to act as enterpreter and billet orderly.
I was working in the factory and for the first day I doned nothing else but shovel coal in a wagon and push it into the boiler. The next day I was working inside on a big sawing machine sawing up tree logs all day. This sort of work carried on quite a few months and it was very strenuous. We also had to do night work from 6 o'clock at night until 6 the next morning.
For working we got a few extra grammes of bread and got paid 1 mark a day but could not get anywhere to spend it.
Our cookhouse was down at the village pub wre we used to manage to get a glass of beer when we were lucky.
Well son I was at this Kommando from Oct until March when I move to Dresden as the Russians where near. We got to Dresden nearly on our Knees, but manage to keep up to the marching.
We were only at Dresden for a couple of weeks but during that time some of us worked in a slaughter house and some worked in claering up the debrix from the bombing or digging out the dead bodies.
The number of dead from the bombing was terrific approximatley 300,000 and we had to sort them out.
I forgot to tell you but while we were at Sebritz the bread had got cut down to one eigth of a loaf and a ladle of soup. We were already nearly starving and the cut in bread nearly put us on our backs.
They caught one of the chaps pinching bread, so they decided as a punishment he would be put in the centre of the room and fire or the chaps knock the life out of him. This they did to him, but when he had had his punishment they said that it was not enough so they put him in the center of the room and the whole lot set about him, and then they stopped his food for a couple of days.
Well after that little lesson I don't think he'll ever pinch off of his mates again.
Well son in the begining of April they decided to move us to the Czech border as our forces where getting to near and that Dresden had been declared as a fortress and that all P.O.W's had to be shifted out, and so we started on our way towards Prague.
We had not gone far before three of us decided to escape, and so the three of us made our way across the hills of Germany to try and reach freedom. But we had not gone far when they missed us and they sent the Folkesturn after us which is the German Home Guard.
We were captured after a couple of days liberty and wre taken to where our fellows were staying. We had our chance again some time later but were not free so long, in fact we was only out for a few hours.
Well son after traveling for about five weeks we haerd that peace was declared but the part we were in was still to carry on fighting, and so we once again we decided it was about time we escaped again and try to get back to England.
On May the eighth we were strafed and bombed by the Russians for fourteen hours, but after all that it quitened down and we decided to carry on.
We got on the road with all the refugees and their we pinched eight bikes for the eight of us that had escaped and we made our way back to freedom where we picked up with the Russian who treated us with respect and told us to take us anything that we want in which we did.
We met the Russians in Hillensdorf and from there we all cycled to Dresden where we were given vodka, wine, schnapps and any food that we wanted. The Russians when told that we were British wanted to kiss and cuddle us, and they even found civvic houses for us to sleep in.
Well son, we only stayed in Dresden for the night and then we made our way towards Leipzig which we heard was in American hands.
Not far from Leipzig an American convoy came through picking up odd stragglers on the road, who were walking. Of course seeing us with bikes they did not stop, so I went sprinting along on the old bike and caught up with them. The convoy then took me to Hale which is about 20 miles the other side of Leipzig, and from there I got a plane to Brussels, and from Brussels a plane to England.
Well son, I had to leave a lot out - such as the atrocities and seeing a lot of my mates hanging up in trees in France, dead. All this I had to leave out but when we meet again, which I hope will be soon, I'll tell you all about it.
Since I landed in England (which was May 15th) I've had quite a decent time, but it has been very boring.
Last Saturday I went to Bobby Miller's wedding and had quite a good timebut it was not lively enough. During the week I took my girl out and good as packed her up. I've also been on the beer for a few nights with some sailors and had a good time with them.
On Saturday after the wedding I went to a dance with the sailors and there I met Laurie Hale, who came up to me and said in quite a pansey sort of way: "Excuse me Fred, but I met Daisy the other day and isn't she beautiful?". When I told Daisy this she said:"What, that little pansey!".
Well son, this is the only photo that I have, so I hope it will do. Also show your two Italian girl friends and put a good word in for me.
Everyone at home is keeping fine and they'll all be glad when we can have a reunion party.
I must end this little book of mine, so here's wishing you all the best of luck until we meet again.

Your affectionate pal and brother,
Fred

P.S.
If you don't know the Italian word for parachutist, the German word is "Falschirmjager".

P.P.S.
Hope you haven't been bored with this letter - I expect one just as long, if not longer.

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