大象传媒

MY GREAT ESCAPE 鈥� Chapter 1 of 3

My story begins just before Christmas 1944.

I was flying on ops at the time, with a crew of 8 in a Halifax LK-Y of 578 Squadron, No.4 Group R.A.F., based at Burn, near Selby, in Yorkshire. Squadron briefing on 22nd December was shortly after mid-day and we were informed that the target for that night was the Bingen Marshalling Yards, positioned on the Rhine some 30 miles southwest of Frankfurt.

106 aircraft were deployed on the raid; 90 Halifax鈥檚, 14 Lancasters and 2 Mosquito鈥檚. I learnt that 2 Halifax鈥檚 and 1 Lancaster had failed to return.

Halifax LK-Y was airborne at 1611 hrs, climbing to 18,000 feet on a cold, sleeting December evening. We cleared cloud at 17,000 ft on a southerly course from Southampton. Leaving our coast behind, we were soon over eastern France where the cloud started to break. Some 50 miles from the target it was down to only five-tenths cloud.

Our flight to Bingen was fairly uneventful, with moderate flak in places. There was also some moderate flak over the target area. Target indicator markers went down on time and the main force was assembled over the marshalling yards within 7 minutes. On the run in we could see the Rhine and the target clearly, and our bombs went directly down on the aiming point.

After clearing the target area we turned south for about 10 miles, then set course for Southampton. Having passed Bad Kreuznach on the new heading of 280 degrees, our gunners reported a Junkers 88 on our tail and prepared to attack. The JU 88 and mid-upper and rear gunners opened fire simultaneously. Both gunners reported hits on the JU 88, which dived away beneath us. They also reported minor damage to our tail plane and fuselage. A few minutes later the mid-under gunner reported the JU 88 was attacking from beneath us. As we returned fire, our aircraft shuddered as hits were registered on our starboard wing. Flames appeared near the petrol tank, and our pilot ordered the crew to bail out, all crew members acknowledged the call.

Lifting my seat, I clipped on my parachute and released the Escape Hatch beneath my feet. Positioning myself on the edge of the escape exit I bailed out at 17,000 ft. I recollect counting up to 3 and pulling the ripcord, but remembered nothing more until I found myself swinging beneath the parachute, with my jaw hurting and feeling a little sick. I must have been in a prone position where the chest-type chute deployed, for it had hit my chin and knocked me out.

I started to look for the ground but I couldn鈥檛 see it, due either to cloud or fog. A short while later I hit the ground with a hell of a wallop, once again hitting my chin, this time with my knee. Luckily I landed in a foot or so of snow, which somewhat reduced the full impact of my landing. I got up and rolled my 鈥榗hute. I got out my compass, got a westerly heading, then carrying my 鈥榗hute on my arm, I set off at a run. I knew how imperative it was for me to clear the area before the Germans found me.

I discovered I had landed in some hills. I kept running until I came to the shelter of a wood, I stopped as I entered, and looked back. I could see my tracks were showing in the snow, but as it was once again snowing my tracks would soon be covered. A few hundred yards inside the wood the snow was barely 6 inches deep, and travelling was much easier. I sat down for a rest, as I needed it after a strenuous run for a considerable time. After my rest I started to think about getting rid of my parachute, Sutton harness and lifejacket. I did not want to leave it on my track so I walked to the south side of the wood, and on the edge came upon a large snowdrift. I dug in the base of this, pushed my Sutton harness in and my lifejacket with my Scout鈥檚 knife, which was strapped to my leg inside my flying boot, I cut a number of panels from the chute. These I wanted to wrap round my body to keep me warmer as I was only wearing a battledress blouse and trousers, roll-necked pullover etc, flying boots and stockings. As the temperature was about 10-12 degrees below, it was extremely cold. I cut a branch from a fir tree and on my way back to my resting place I brushed out my footprints as I went along, leaving no trace. On reaching my resting place I set course once again on a westerly heading, running and walking through the wood. Here the going was easier. I eventually left the wood and once again was out in deep snow and still appeared to be climbing up the hills. Dawn was approaching so I knew I would have to look for a hiding place, when I came across a small country road. On the far side was a corpse and a slit-trench close by. I went inside the corpse, collected a number of branches, which I laid across the trench. Over this I laid the parachute panels, then scattered snow on top, and with a branch again I obliterated my tracks from around the area. I clambered into the trench under the shelter and pushed the snow out to the edge thus forming a wall, which stopped the wind and kept me out of view. I curled up and tried to get some sleep.

Waking up about an hour later, feeling extremely cold. It was now light and I thought about having a look outside, when I could here a horse and cart approaching. As it passed I knew at least there were two people in it since I could hear them talking, so I decided not to emerge from the trench until I was ready to leave the area.

I checked my escape pack which included Horlicks tablets, water bag, water purifying tablet, razor, soap, needle and cotton, small compass, silk escape map, Benzedrine tablets and foreign currency. To keep my hands warm I pulled my sweater sleeves down and sewed it between my fingers, thus forming mittens, which helped to keep my hands warm. I put snow inside the water bag and the placed inside my battledress to melt to water. I spread the silk map out and started to work out my approximate position, and to make a decision which way to travel to get clear of Germany. The nearest was Luxembourg and I was this side of the Moselle river, which I had to cross, and I worked out that my heading would take me near Trier. I stayed in the trench all day, sleeping fitfully, being disturbed every so often by farm vehicles and also the extreme cold.

As soon as it was dark I climbed out and collapsed my hide into the trench, re-wrapped the chute round me and started walking along the road, which was more or less on a westerly heading. After about an hour or so I came across a small village. I was about to pass through when someone, about 50 yards away, lit a cigarette. I detoured well around the village and vowed to keep clear of habitation whenever possible.

After a long spell of walking and climbing higher into the hills, I came across a large wood on the ridge of high ground. As I was about to enter I could see a stout stick propped against a pine-tree, which I thought would help me along the way. I eventually emerged from the wood 鈥� the ground suddenly dropped away to a valley below 鈥� the ridge was now on a southwesterly direction. I continued along the ridge on the edge of the wood. I began to feel tired so decided to have a rest. I sat down with my back to a large tree and had a couple of Horlicks tablets and a glucose sweet, of which I had about a dozen in my pocket, and a drink of water. I then refilled my water bag with more snow. I was constantly doing this. Whilst resting, I kept on hearing what I thought was snow falling from trees. I then noticed with some trepidation a ring of eyes surrounding me. I picked up the heavy stick and charged the animals, which scattered in all directions. They appeared to be Alsatian type dogs, probably turned loose by their owners due to rationing, or military police dogs, which may have escaped due to bombing. I didn鈥檛 think it wise to stay in the area any longer so I left the wood and went to the valley below. I now appeared to be in farmland with the odd small farmhouse scattered around. I kept on a westerly heading until I eventually came to a railway line running North- south. It was now getting near to first light and I needed to find another hiding place. I climbed over the embankment of the railway line and to the south of me on the far side was a line of hedges covered with a canopy of snow, top and sides, which I thought would make a good hiding place from view and wind. I went along the bottom of the embankment until I came along a small hole in the hedge, and crawled inside the hedge to the middle. I curled up my body and went of to sleep. I awoke with a start when I heard a man pushing his bike along the field within a couple of yards of me. I froze until he had moved on. Later on I heard a train coming along the railway line. Nothing disturbed me for the rest of the day, so I slept fitfully. Time dragged 鈥� one hour seeming like three. Eventually it was dusk, and once again I prepared to move on.

I had a drink of water, as I was always thirsty and once again made my way on a westerly heading. I crossed fields, keeping clear of farm buildings. Coming across a small stream I broke the ice to refill my water bottle, put in a purifying tablet and then had a long drink. I was so thirsty. I once again refilled my bottle.

In the early hours of the morning I left the farmland behind, appearing to be climbing slightly, with a small corpse of trees in the area. After passing a small wood I heard the cracking noise of a pulse jet roaring away behind me. I turned and could see a V1 taking off; it was flying directly towards me. I threw myself to the ground and watched it as it rose to about 200 ft above my head. As soon as it vanished I departed from the area in a hurry, as I knew there were German troops close by.

It was getting close to dawn again, and I was still travelling west. I came across a large wood of fir trees. Checking it out carefully to ensure it was not occupied I went through the wood looking for a hiding place. There appeared to be none. As I emerged from the trees I could see a large lone pine about 50 yards away. Propped against it was small pine tree logs, forming a tepee type shelter. I thought this would make a reasonable hiding place, but not a very good windbreak. I cut another branch from the tree, went back into the wood for about 100 yards, I brushed out my foot prints to my hide, pulled one of the logs away and slipped inside. With my back to the tree on the leeward side, I tried to go off to sleep, but woke a short while later due to the wind. As it got lighter I could see a town on river. I checked my map and my approximate position and considered this was the town of Trier. I could see a bridge across the river. The town appeared to have been bombed recently since buildings were still burning, and smoke drifting across the town. Mid morning I heard voices and I looked out, and they鈥檙e climbing the hill towards me was a group of German soldiers accompanied by a young woman. I hid behind a large tree, but they passed within 100 yards of me towards the wood. Once there they started cutting branches down and also window silver metal strips, which were a jamming device against radar by the R.A.F. it dawned on me they were going to use these for Christmas decorations. Then I realised it was Christmas day.

I started to think about the Christmas lunch we were going to have in the mess, so I had 3 Horlicks tablets and 2 glucose sweets for mine, and a long drink of water. At last it was dusk. I opened my concealment and started to make my way down the hill. By my observations during the day I ascertained there only appeared to be one bridge across the river, so I would have to reconnoitre the area to find out how easy it was to cross. I made my way along a major road towards the centre of the town. As I was walking along, a number of military lorries and 2 tanks passed me. On passing a junction a lorry pulled up and the driver asked me the way. I made out that I couldn鈥檛 speak, pointing to my throat and mouth, and pointed down to the road, which branched off and held up 5 fingers, indicating the distance. I removed myself from the area quickly.

On reaching the town I found it reasonably easy to get near to the bridge. I could see military vehicles pulling other lorries along, so I gathered there was a shortage of fuel in Germany. Another two tanks went past me and I made a note of there military markings. There was a guard on my side of the bridge, but a number of vehicles were crossing, both civilian and military. The guard wasn鈥檛 stopping anyone, merely watching. I decided to risk crossing the bridge on the guard鈥檚 side, and on doing so I walked towards him. I noticed him looking at me so I walked up to him. Taking a chance and talking in a garbled version of Spanish, I asked the way. What I didn鈥檛 know I made up. The guard couldn鈥檛 understand me, or I him, and he got fed up and waved me across the bridge. The guard on the other side fortunately showed no interest in me whatsoever.

On going through the town I noticed far more bomb damage than I first thought when observing it from the far side of the river. Going along one road I came upon a large bomb crater right in the middle of it, the overhead lines of a tram were down across the road. As I skirted the crater a person was coming the other way, which turned out to be a German officer. As he passed, I nodded towards the crater and shrugged my shoulders, he replied with a nod and passed on.

On reaching the outskirts I came across a busy main road going northerly. Avoiding the road I continued on in a westerly direction, eventually reaching a narrow country road that climbed up through some woods on a northwesterly direction. After walking along this road for about five or six hours I came across a large farm. I was about to walk past when I heard the sound of someone moving about. There was a German guard in uniform walking up and down past a barn. I could hear further sounds of talking from the barn, and there were obviously German troops inside taking a rest. I rapidly vacated the area in a westerly direction.

I continued in this direction for two or three hours when I stumbled across a large barbed wire and small trench area, and negotiated these when I came across a very large and deep trench running north/south. It was obviously an anti-tank trench about 10-12 feet deep and 15 feet across. I jumped down into the area and tried to climb out on the far side, but couldn鈥檛 get a grip on the far side, so I dug foot and handholds with my knife, and also used it to get a purchase to drag myself up. I continued on through barbed wire entanglements and small trenches when I came across large blocks of concrete set at an angle. This was obviously another anti-tank device, which were known as 鈥淒ragons Teeth鈥�.

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