大象传媒

So by train again, this time over the north-eastern border of Czechoslovakia with Germany, to our final camp 1Vc at Maltheuren near Brux. On doing so, we were somewhat taken aback when we passed the fourth largest oil-refinery in Europe - the immense Herrman Goering Works, with three chimneys - two working ones and a false one!

Later on we heard that from the soft brown coal excavated from the coalmines in the neighbourhood, some twenty-six products were produced. I can only remember a few of these - Benzine, lipstick, soap, margarine. It was also stated that it would take about seven tons of that coal to be the equivalent of just a single ton of Welsh anthracite.

Upon arriving at Camp IVc we were met by the Lagerfuhrer, who told us that if we played ball with him, he would play ball with us! This seemed to be some kind of joke at the time, but all will be revealed later on. There were some 1,800 of us, including some South Africans. A number of POWs taken in Arnhem joined us much later on.

We enjoyed the presence of a very good interpreter in the beginning, but it seems that he was a Jew and he was removed from the camp, believed to have been sent to a stone quarry? They promised that none of we British would be sent down the coalmines, but about ten days later that is exactly where we were sent.

I well recall going down in the skip that first night. As it started, it did so at such break-neck speed that I really thought the floor had disappeared from under my feet. We were in fact, told that a few years ago a skip had actually plummeted straight down with eleven men on board. There were ratchets all the way down but travelling at such speed, using the stop would surely have sent men through the roof!

When we arrived at our work place, the Czech miners gave us a good reception, but they said "Churchill prima, but Chamberlain ....." Then made a gesture as if they would like to have cut his throat! It was not long before we heard a song being whistled over and over again by those Czechs. We had no idea as to what it was then, but have now long been familiar with it -'Lilli Marlene'. Very popular indeed with the Afrika Korps in the deserts of Egypt and Libya.

Leading from the passages were some extra large spaces.which were referred to as plans or theatres. Men would climb extremely high ladders and bore shot- holes in a cloud of mist at the top. One day there was an accident and a certain Czech who was very popular with many of us, was buried in a fall of coal. The Germans brought him into our particular passageway and presumably they were deciding whether he was worth reviving or not. However, it was finally agreed that he was a very good worker, so he was then taken to the surface and eventually to hospital for treatment. It seems that some of our men were able to visit him there, but I cannot understand how, under the circumstances.

On a night shift, I saw some Ukrainians being lashed with a long whip and the wealds on their backs were frightening to see. At that particular time, I felt how lucky we were to be able to feel the hand of our Red Cross behind us, whilst those poor unfortunates were not able to have the Red Cresent to protect them.

The stench of those primative toilets underground was nauseating to say the least, especially when in a short break, we were having our kohl-rabi soup, which was transported by track and each of us had to dip our mugs into a grubby container thereon. Pit mice would run up ones legs whilst sitting down to drink same, if they were able to do so!

After a while, I developed what were known as 'desert sores' mainly on my left leg, into which one could have placed an old penny piece flatwise. These were not only sore, but were weeping and burning also.
One day a New Zealand doctor arrived at our camp and by the light of a miner's lamp examined them. He was astonished to know that I had been going underground in that condition, saying that it was criminal. This amused me, so I asked him whatever he thought was meant to have been criminal in their minds! I was not to go back until the condition had cleared up, because if coal dust was to get into those sores it would be very serious indeed.

For three weeks I was in camp hospital - over Christmas and New Year period, returning to the mine in early January, 1944. Some medicament was applied and wrapped in crepe paper bandages - the normal bandages were all going to the Russian front. It was not until one day something then known as M &B. (May & Baker) arrived from the Red Cross in Switzerland, that success was in sight. Apparently, the powder would draw blood to the sores, clean them and heal them all in one go. At least it meant being away from those ever shouting steigers (foremen) who were continuously ordering 'Immer arbeit'(Keep working), because although we had to do but menial tasks, by now I felt too weak to even lift a light shovel!

We had been working eight hour shifts, but these were later increased to ten hours, for the equivalent of about 9d per day in kind, not in cash. At the end of the shift we deposited our lamps, showered and then marched back in all manner of weather conditions, to camp some three miles away.

Incidentally, for the princely sum of 9d per day we were able to purchase so-called razor blades, hedge clippings (young buds) which was rated as tea - in Italy these were 'smoked' in 'pipes' of sorts, coffee made from burnt acorns and something which they had the audacity to call beer. So virtually there was nothing to be had worth considering.

The bread was made from sawdust and potato-flour and would emit a queer squeak when being cut with a piece of tin. Ersatz meat appeared in a roll, which we used to slice and stick upon the side of a black stove - goodness only knows what it contained, but we never saw a cat or dog anywhere around!

One great benefit was the fact that we were able to have coal from our mine with which to get some warmth any evening, whenever we were not away on shift work.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.