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We got all the Lorrys up together and we threw most of our stores away to make room for our wounded and Dead ones, we would not leave them behind.
That done we got the Lorrys started up we all got aboard and a signal to start, then all at once a machine gun opened fire on us from somewhere and sprayed us with lead, nobody saw where it came from. We all dismounted to get under cover and with that, the firing ceased, we dived for the Lorrys once again this time we would chance anything and with that we moved off out in the road expecting to be fired at again but this time it did not come. We went full speed down the road and French People who saw us beckoned us to go back but we ignored them, we carryed on into the trap they had prepared for us. We flew round a corner at top speed and down the road then there was a explosion and all the Convoy pulled up.
Jerry had a big gun in the road which they fired and blew the first Lorry up, of course that blocked the road even if it had not and we could have got round there was something else to stop us, they had the Railway Crossing gates down and the gun in the way.
There was only one thing for us to do and that was to jump out and dive in the woods which was on the side of the road. Jerry had prepared that for us as they were in there waiting. There was twelve of us together we got behind some bushes and waited for them.
Machine guns and Rifle fire was going on all around us and plenty of it this time, we could not move from where we were for if we had it would mean walking right into a hail of bullets so we waited and the suspense was terrible. It was getting darker as the time was getting late.
I was on the lookout moving here and there, the other fellows said lay down Sigs we are whacked, the odds are too great we shall have to be taken Prisoners. I said I must have a go at them first whatever chance I had as I still had it in me I would rather get killed than to be taken.

After what seem ages to me waiting I crawled out of the bushes on my hands and knees, I spotted three Jerrys coming towards us through the trees, I knelt up and going to raise my Rifle, but too late, one of them was already aiming his Rifle at me and then Ping. I felt a pain in my chest and I went. My mates saw what had happened to me they threw up their arms. Jerry liined them up and went through their pockets. I still lay where I had fallen wondering what was going to happen to me. A Jerry officer came along and looked at us, then he saw me laying there with a stained tunic so he told one of our Chaps to see to me which he did by putting a field Dressing on me. I feeling rotten and so dry in the mouth, I asked for water but nobody had any on them, all ours had gone long ago, the ones who had any was the Jerry Guard so the chap who dressed me asked him for some so he took his bottle off and threw it over, I know I emptied it for him, it revived me a bit.

We waited there for a while, by this time it was dark then the firing stopped altogether and a big crowd of German Soldiers came up, they marched the others off while two carried me bringing up the rear.
They took us out in the roadway and up to a Railway Station not far away. I looked round when they were carrying me, I saw what was left of that first Lorry, I thought that it was a good job I was not in it.
They layed me down on the platform, I noticed there was plenty of light as one part of the station was blazing away. The other Chaps were sitting down near me on seats. A Jerry looked at me then walked away and back he came a few minutes later with two big cushions for me to lay on, I thanked him. Another came up to me with a friendly smile and asked me how I felt, he said my wound was not too bad and it would soon heal.

The night was dark but this place was lit up with that fire which was still going strong. Then there came a roar of Planes.Jerry soon got under cover so they would not be seen, but they passed over alright, they must have been their own.
A Jerry Officer came up and ordered two of our Chaps to go and help some of the French that were wounded which they did and brought them over and layed them next to me and they were in a bad way. That job being done they came back and sat down but not for long.
Another Jerry Officer came along who could speak English, he ordered them to fall in with the Germans, he said one comrade stay with me a young Chap said shall I stop with you, I said I wish you would, so with that I said Cheerio to the other Chaps and they were marched off in the night. What became of them after that I have no idea. I was so tired what with loss of blood and sleep I soon forgot everything and fell asleep.

I awoke next morning to find my Mate still sitting at my feet wide awake, everywhere was very quiet. I looked around and I see the two French what lay next to me were dead.I said to my Mate I wonder what will happen to us now, so we had to wait and see what Jerry was going to do.
We did not have to wait long before a French Ambulance came up and took us on stretchers into a First Aid post in the Town.As they layed me in there a Chap came up to me and said Hello Bill, I was surprised as much as he was to find him in there, he was not wounded, he said he got through and this was as far as he could get.
This place was run by French Medical Corps.
They said to the other two Chaps to go away with them in a lorry. I wanted to go with them but they would not let me.

I did not like the idea of stopping there on my own with only French and German who I could not talk to. They did not trouble to redress my wound the time I stayed there. I was in there about two hours when I heard a German language. I began to wonder what was going to happen this time.

I did not wonder for long when two came to me where I lay they picked me up on a stretcher and carryed me outside into a Ambulance.
There was a small crowd of French People outside looking on I was layed in first.
Two French Women who was standing at their door opposite waved to me, and one of them went in and came back again she came over to me and put a peppermint in my mouth and she put a bag full in my pocket. I thanked her very much it was very good of her as I was so dry, she waved to me just before Jerry slammed the door.

Away we went, I had no idea where we were going as I could not see out, we were travelling for about half an hour and then we stopped. They opened the door and lifted me out and carryed me into a barn on my own and left me laying on some straw.

I lay there thinking and wondering how I could escape for a while until I fell asleep. I woke to find two Jerrys bending over me, the layed me on a stretcher and carryed me outside how long I had been asleep I did not know, it was daylight and my watch had stopped.
They layed me just outside the barn door and stood there waiting the two Jerrys. One of them bent down and started talking to me and showing souveniers he had picked up from different places. The other one put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a tin of Players and myself I never had as much as a fag end. I did not like to ask him for one, but I wanted to keep my eyes open. I asked the one who was talking to me if he would give me a drink he said sure I will, he went away to return in a few minutes with a nice cup of coffee. I drank it while he held my head up as it was awkward for me not being able to use my left arm. After a while a Jerry Medical Officer came up with a shringe and he started talking to me in French and when he noticed that I did not take any notice of him,he looked at me and said English, I nodded yes he gave a grunt and said no more, he stripped the dressing off of me and then stuck the shringe into the wound, he was not too careful about it. That done, he redressed it and it felt fairly comfortable. They picked me up again and carryed into another barn which was packed with French Soldiers who also were wounded.
They layed me down and put a sack over me and went out.

This barn was very small and when they shut the door it was completly dark, and how hot and stuffy in there and the smell of blood was awful. I lay there between the French while rats were running over your face, I got under the sack that made no difference they came under there and sniffed my face, I suppose they could smell the blood.
I lay there for an hour or so still planning a way of escape I had had enough already so I decided to have a go I did not mind being shot I have already felt a bullet and I did not mind another to finish me off. I could not stop there I should have gone mad, it would have been better for me if there was another English Chap for company but there it was I was on my own. So with that on my mind I fell asleep.
I awoke and feeling a lot better after a nice long sleep but I was so dry. It was daylight as I could see through the cracks on the door. I lay there with my mind still made up.

A little later a Jerry came in and told me to get to my feet which I did and also some of the French he went away leaving us standing there. I went outside the barn to have a look round to see what it was like, there was scores Tanks, Guns Lorrys etc. and plenty of Jerrys escape looked impossible.I stood there looking, I saw two Jerrys carrying a stretcher with two little Girls about eight years old very badly injured and another came along carrying a small baby which was also very badly wounded, it made me feel quite sick to see them.
While I stood there, those French came out and started walking about until a German Officer spotted us and he did let fly at us in French, we all slunk back like a lot of rats.
We stood waiting in this barn when I heard Planes overhead and then a bomb came followed by more. I was pleased with that although I had to be in it, but anyway, Jerry opened up with the old Pom Pom Gun on them and they went away not before they dropped their load. I suppose that Jerry Officer thought he would find us something better to do than hanging about. So he sent a Jerry N.C.O. to us, he told the French to go and do something, of course I could not understand, so they walked off and I still stood there until he shouted at me to follow them which i did. I caught up with them and asked them what we was going to do, but he was busy with his own troubles and he did not bother to answer me.
We walked in this camp and I could see plenty of Jerrys about working on tanks. i thought to myself escaping then would be hopeless as they were watching us.
Well we walked on a bit further until we was getting close to a high hedge and I was lingering behind these French and as we got nearer I thought I must get over and take a chance as it was a good one. So I looked about me and I could see Jerry then was to much on his job to be interested in us. I got closer watching points and then I made a dive for it and over I went with a bit of trouble. I could not get over quick enough. However I managed it alright . I walked across a field as quick as I could without giving myself away.
There was a Farm House about one Hundred yards away which I made for. I went in there and asked them for a drink, they gave it to me and something to eat. They could see who I was and the state I was in. I needed a shave and I had one of my sleeves missing from my tunic which was blew off.
While I was sitting down eating, one of these Farmers went away and came back with an old pair of trousers and a jacket, he asked me if I would like them as I would not get far in my uniform. I was pleased with the idea, so I went into a barn and changed into them, they gave me a beret hat and the even went as far by getting a sack, filling it with straw to tie on my back looking like a valise. He told me I would look like a Refugee and I found out later I did.
I must say I owe my freedom to those kind folks, if Jerry had come in there, he would have shot us all, and those People knew the risk they were taking. The farmers wife came out with a basin of egg and milk for me, and some bread and butter wrapped up in paper for me to take.
They told me which direction to take where I should come in contact with the English, but I had to get through first. I thanked them for what they had done for me, I really could not thank them enough, they wished me luck and off I went on my way, my biggest problem was before me. I had got away, that, I thought, was the main thing. It was about nine in the morning when I left there as I put my watch right by the clock.
I plodded across fields and down country roads, I avoided Towns I went round them the best way as I could. The people I passed did not take any notice of me as there were plenty like me on the roads.
Walking down one road I saw coming towards me, jerry tanks, I just carryed on as if I was a French Peasant they passed me without as much as a glance, that was alright if I could pass them I could do so with more, it gave me confidence.

I was getting very thirsty again so I decided to ask at some house and I had to be careful which one I went to. I saw a Woman in her garden and I asked her, she looked at me up and down so I told her who I was so she went in and came back with a Bottle of beer and a glass. I drank the lot, thanked her and bade her farewell.
I kept walking but where to I did not know. I was going down a country road and there was nobody about only myself, when I heard Planes coming over. I looked up to see they were ours and they started dropping bombs on a little wood then I heard a gun fire at them so I guessed Jerry had some stuff in there. I had to pass that. I stopped where I was until they had finished, looking on. I saw them wheel out two German Fighters, they started them up and they were away in a very short time.
I could have almost touched them as they flew over my head. By the time they did get up, our machines had gone.
I carryed on walking I was getting tired but I would not waste time sitting down so I stuck it. I passed a lot of houses and the People were still in them, they carryed on just the same as if there was not a war on.

It was about four in the afternoon when I arrived at this place, oh dearit was hell let loose. People were running up the road with Children carrying a few things looking frightened to death. I went as close as I could near the lines. I jumped down a ditch watching, I saw our Soldiers over the other side of the canal and Jerrys this side. I saw everything that was going on, I knew it was absolutly impossible to get through there.
I was still in the ditch when I saw over the canal the smoke from an eighteen pounder and then whizz then bang, it fell not far from me,I lay flat in the ditch, I only had the spray of earth so I thought I had better move back a bit which I did.
I got into another ditch when I heard a car coming down the road. I looked round, my heart sank, there were four Jerry officers in it. I could not move as it was too late and I did not like the idea of giving myself away. I was planning all kinds of things to say if they should stop. They came on and I was looking at them so unconcerned and then they went by and all of them looked at me. I quite expected a bullet through me but it did not come.
I remained in that ditch for a few moments watching.There was a big dog fight going on right above me. I saw a big bomber come crashing down what it seemed to me he was going to land on me. I stayed where I was because it landed about a hundred yards away and then blew up, I was pleased to see the cross on her wings. Three minutes later one of our Fighters crashed almost beside him and he went up in Flames. I saw nobody get out.
The banging of shells and machine guns still continued a bit hot so I decided to move away from there and it was getting dark so I retraced my footsteps a little way until I came to a Farm.I went up to the house and knocked on the door a oldish man answered, I asked him if I could sleep in his barn after telling him who I was he said I could and gave me some sacks to cover over me. I got down to it and I was asleep in a very short time. I awoke early next morning with terrific shelling going on so I decided to move away quick. I saw the old boy outside, I dont suppose he slept very well with all that going on. Iasked him which way I should go for Calais as I thought would try there as it was hopeless this way, he told me it was a long way but I should make it in a day.
I got on my way feeling a bit fresher after a nice sleep, but I felt thirsty and hungry as the bread I had given me went a long time ago.

After half hours walking I was not sure of my way so I saw a fellow on the road and I asked him in my best French which was not very good. Before he would answer me, he said you English Soldier. I shook my head and said no, so he came a bit nearer to me, he was a tough looking guy. I did not want to stand there and argue with him so I moved off. He then rushed in somebodys house and came out with two more men and started calling after me to go back, whether they wanted to help me or not I did not know so I did not give them any chances. I hurried on, they started to come after me,I got a bit windy if they should have caught me I could do nothing as my left arm was useless. I went round a corner and run for dear life, they came round and saw the distance between us so gave up and went back. That made me feel quite rotten so I had to watch my step in future.

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