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past carrying our burdens. Our billet as it happened was a Gasthaus.
The lads were soon around and the local post office, which had a
goodly supply of French personnel parcels, was soon besieged and
some lads had as many as four parcels per man. Later a cart went
along and fmally arrived with 100 parcels. The men had to parade and
the issue was 1 parcel to 3 men. Those who had previously had 4 or 5
each had the audacity to line up and take another 1/3. Comradeship I
am sorry to say does not, I repeat, not exist amongst the type of men
we have on this party. I will not try and describe the scenes when the
parcels came to be issued, only to the effect that it was one mad
chaotic rush. Never have I seen such lunatics in my life. However,
John and I had our share: 2/3 of a parcel. We received 2/3 kilo sugar,
60 biscuits, 2/3 bar chocolate and 2/3 kilo of war bread. You can
imagine what amount of food, cigarettes and other goods the heroes
got who had 4 parcels each and this is no exaggeration. Mind you if
any man had missed his share, not one would have volunteered a
parcel. Such a type of man I never thought existed. We ate a good tea
that night, having made a brew of French cocoa which I forgot to say
was in our parcel. The villagers were very good to us.

Monday 2nd April. We moved out from here at 6.30 p.m. and our journey
was a 17 km one. The going was good and sometime around midnight
we arrived at a small village and put up for the night in a bam.
Artillery fire could still be heard. My stomach was giving me some
trouble now and I visited the Sanitater (medical orderly) for some
medicine. We had boiled potato soup and coffee issued that day. We
have only dry bread, biscuits, sugar and cocoa left now. A bread
ration is being issued today, which was 1 slice per man.

Tuesday 3rd April. A hen, the good bird, has just laid an egg a yard from
me and so after boiling it we spread it on our bread and ate a goodly
meal. We slept under a cart of hay and during the night I was very ill
and was sick. I slept very little. I had no breakfast the following day.

Wednesday 4th April. My stomach is still giving me a little trouble, but I
am much better after the stuff I pumped up. It is a cold day and I lay
between my blankets whilst John did the cooking. I lay like a Lord.
Many bombers passed over her this morning and I mean American
and British (enemy aircraft are seldom seen). Had meat soup for
dinner and moved out at 3 p.m. Passed through the village of
Sweinfeldt - halted on hill after a stiff climb. Bread is supposed to be
issued here but it is always a question these days (It was not issued).
Weather sunny but cool - stomach much better. Arrived small village
about 7 p.m. Had soup and bread issue, 9 men to a loaf, very small
portion.

Thursday and Friday 5th and 6th April. Up at 5 am. And on road by 7
a.m. Two blankets and one horse rug have been stolen from farm here.
Marched through village with road blocks in position. Stopped here
whilst our fighter aircraft viewed the roads around - they returned and
one machine gunned a Jerry transport bus putting it out of commission
- also dropped four bombs on adjacent village. Our party, which up to
now, had marched in column got straggling out in small parties -
some could be seen emerging from the pine woods. It makes one
smile having to run away from our own aircraft. As we entered the
next village, we saw the local fire brigade ready for action. The driver
was a lad of some 2 score years with the usual bushy moustache, and
his colleagues were about the same calibre. What a scene, it reminds
me of the carnival days. Some had sporting guns and everyone
seemed in hectic haste. The engine was drawn by two horses and was
very ancient. The pump was worked by hand. After 2 hours trudging
along we fmally arrived at our halting place for the night. One finds a
pump to nearly every house around here and a dung heap in close
proximity. I think our local sanitary inspectors would soon have these
removed. In the roofs of the buildings, I could see pigeon holes, every
available space is occupied in a Jerry farm house, even by pigeons.
Chief means of fuel is Holz (wood) and plenty of it.

Saturday 7th April. Sat out in sun in the afternoon. War news: 12th
Division American 38 miles NW of Numberg, 7th Armoured Division
(Desert Rats) 35 mile advance in one hour on Breman - still hopes of
being cut off. People here appear OK to us. Had bread issue, approx.
330 grams per man how long this will last we cannot tell. For tea,
John and I had beans, macaroni, potatoes and carrots and 1 slice of
dry bread. Obtained some cigarette tobacco from Jerry Posten. Lads
walking about village. Had remains of bread stolen. We now have
nothing left. We move out early in the morning.

Sunday 8th April. Awake 3 a.m. and away at 5 a.m. Slice of bread for
breakfast due to late issue of bread last night. Frosty morning, but by
6.30 a.m. it was lovely. As we walked through the pine woods the
singing of the birds sent a thrill through you, so peaceful it sounded.
At 8.30 a.m. we reached the village of Falkendorf. This was our
destination and we had boiling of spuds immediately. Had mashed
potatoes and coffee later. Bread ration dwindling. After tea had walk
in woods (Yes a walk, a thing that only free men are allowed).
Kriegsgefangener (POW) taking a walk, you can imagine how near
freedom and victory we must be to let us have such privileges. I sat
down and wrote my diary or I should say my subsidiary one. Over
300 bombers passed over here today. The German wireless notify the
public as to which direction aircraft are flying. We are supposed to
travel tomorrow 39 km to a Lager. I managed to get some milk. The
farmer before giving me it asked me if I was a Jew. Jerry soldier gave
me some tobacco, said he was going to the eastern front. This is a
Sunday evening spent in the Bavarian woods. Oh Boy.

Monday 9th April. Left Falkendorf at 5 a.m., passed through Niederdorf
and Eriangen. The latter is a fairly large Stadt and a training area for
tanks and infantry. We walked across the area to cut our route much
shorter. Reached a village at 10.30 a.m. Lay down and slept until soup
time. No bread issue yet. We had spuds, spuds and spuds.

Tuesday 10th April. Moved out at 6.30 a.m. Passed through Uttendorf,
railway and main road combined. Just before Steinbach stopped at a
farmhouse and procured 1 leg of chicken and some cooked meat and 1
kilo bread, also 1 pint of milk (cost 1 bar soap). Four of our planes
strafed an objective near us. Really warm weather now.

Wednesday 11th April. Off again 7 a.m. and passed through village of
Neunhof. Rested a fair time on outskirts, lovely morning. Ate a few
boiled potatoes cold. Pine woods around here. Begged some tobacco
from Jerry solider and had a smoke. Passed through small village and
John did big business - 2 kilos Brote, 2 pieces cake and 1 bottle of hot
coffee for 1 tablet scented soap. The young woman actually kissed the
soap and said if he had any more the order could be repeated. Went
into woods to scrutinise kit for more soap but spotted Posten who
made us walk on (bad luck as we had one more tablet). Loaded with
Brote we legged it until we arrived in Lauf an der Pegnitz, a large
Stadt on the same lines as Chester. A quaint place with a river and
half-timbered houses. Begged bread - people good to us. It may sound
very degrading to beg bread, but our ration is practically nil and we
only get one soup per day, sometimes two. We have to march 15 to 20
km a day so how can one keep this up without something to eat. I
would rather ask than steal (Ask and it shall be given unto you, and so
it was). At 4 p.m. we arrived at a village and had boiled spuds without
salt for tea. 4.30 p.m. hundreds of heavy bombers flew over filling the
sky over our heads.

Thursday 12th ApriL Men went to Langwasser to see if Red Cross parcels
could be got. Came back with 1 parcel per man and 50 cigarettes John
and I had Bermondsey parcels (some Xmas parcels), good drink of
tea, bread, margarine and jam and biscuits for tea. Village machine
gunned by our planes or rather a Jerry transport. Tracer bullets hit
barn 50 yards from us and set it on fire. Building completely burned
out. Planes no more than 70 to 100 feet up. Saw C92 markings and
bomb underneath. John and I stayed put but most lads got away to
some woods close by. What an exciting time. One lad helping to put
out fire had tunic stolen, later it was returned. 10 pairs of boots and
leather brought from Langwasser. My boots require repairing. I see
duck and green peas on the fire now. The duck I am sorry to say was
stolen. I cannot understand men stooping so low as this - lads roamed
to next village.

Friday 13th ApriL Hit the trail again 07.30 hrs, at 3 km passed through
village of Diepersdorf - lads from Hanmelsburg billeted here. Saw
commandant from 13C. Managed to get bottle of beer to quench thirst
- later had morning snack of bread, cheese and beer. 11.30 a.m.
passed through Altdorf, a fairly large Stadt, occupied by Hungarian
SS troops. Rested in centre of town - usual food queues. Destination
Rasch 3/2 km away. Heard in Altdorf that President Rooseveldt was
dead. Arrived in Rasch 12.00 hrs - pretty village in valley. I was
having stroll round village when I was threatened by a guy with
revolver. Later we were all told to keep off the streets. Spoke to Jerry
troops on way here and one lad was only 16 years old. The rest were
mere boys just from school. They said the war was going to end in six
weeks time. We dined off cottage pie, mashed potatoes, beans and
carrots and the usual soup issue. Rain in morning, hot sun in the
afternoon. A barn is our billet.

Saturday 14th April. Arose 07.30 hrs. and prepared porridge for
Friihstuck (breakfast). For dinner we had mashed potatoes, sausage,
pancakes with spread of jam and later had soup issue. Finished on
strong pot of tea and a cigarette. Did some darning, size of hole 3"x
2". Sewed my pocket and patched John鈥檚 pants. Kartoffel situation
here acute for some unknown reason. Swievels for chocolate etc. -
purchased comb from civvy for eine Zigarette. Had walk across fields
after tea.

Sunday 15th ApriL Set out at steady pace 7 a.m. 1 km passed through dorf
of Gnadenburg. People going to church - ruins of monastery here.
Pine woods and lovely spot. 5 or 6 km entered Oberolsbach small
village - some Jerries about. Rested on outskirts in pinewoods
because of air activity. Artillery fire distinctly heard. 1 a.m. entered
Neumarkt our equivalent for Newmarket I assume. Big town - by the
damage done our bombers had visited here - people evacuating.
Halted 1 1/2 hours on outskirts and then made our way up hill and
round other side, then down again to arrive finally at 4 p.m. at village
of Sengenhau. Weather lovely. News - Numburg fallen - also
Eriangen and Regensburg rumours. Up to date marched 160 km. Had
bread ration 1 1/2 kilos per man, but no hopes of any more.

Monday 16th ApriL Arose at 7.30 a.m. and made porridge for breakfast
(Friihstuck). Mid-moming brew. For dinner, had mashed potatoes,
peas, (also dried egg), apple pudding (our last) and our soup issue, tea
and a smoke. Sat writing diary and thinking of home. Weather lovely.
Big guns firing very close to here - shakes building - fighters
overhead. News that we join main column tonight, move at 4 p.m. Tea
we shall have tea bread and margarine with meat spread, biscuits and
jam and see what tomorrow brings. We set out at 4 p.m. and as we
crossed the fields to gain the main road, a great many of our bombers
went over. A fighter came down low over our column. At last we
struck the road and kept up a steady pace for 4 km. Here John and I
rested. At 10 km our aircraft, which had been buzzing around, decided
to come lower and machine gun a Jerry horse-drawn transport not far
from us (300 yards). I saw the vapour leave the exhaust as he opened
the throttle in the dive, and then the chatter of his guns as he
depressed the button. After this hold-up we tracked our way by the
side of a canal for some distance, gaining once more the road. In
about half an hour, we arrived at Sohngriesbach, a Stadt of 25
families. I instantly made friends with one family getting bread, hot
water and two eggs and cup of hot milk.

Tuesday 17th ApriL Awake early. Went to house for hot water - put on
best Deutsche and obtained 1 egg, a piece of bacon and lOlbs
Kartoffels, also slice of bread. I gave vest (spare one) BD pants and
underpants to the old boy. The girls I gave 1 pair blue gloves. He told
me many things about the Nazi Party and said the village did not
support the crooked cross. He said Man Friday made them do away
with the crucifix and said no one had to study to be a pastor. He was
in the last war and is 48 years old. His brother works as an Inspector
in the postal department at Munich. They had no radio or Zeitung
(newspaper) and he wants the Yankees to come schnell (quickly). He
said Americans gute and did not believe the silly propaganda. Ate
well today. Had 1 1/2 eggs, mashed potatoes, chips, soup given to me
by my Jerry friend and our own soup. Finished on a slice of bread and
jam and tea, contented, but oh how I long for dear old England. After
Mittag essen (lunch) went to house again and sprechen mit the old
boy. I tried to persuade him to write his name in this diary, but he
would not dare in case the rotten N.S.P. find this diary. Gave us eine
slice ofBrote with Sweinfleisch (pork meat) on lovely fat. I had 1 egg
on bread and 1 slice with jam and 1 biscuit, tea etc. I could write
many pages regarding information gained during my talks with him
but space and time limits all things. Bridge close by here blown up -
houses shook. Girl of the family gone to Stadt fur brote. "Ich der
familie muss sehen ". Jah! Jah!. No bread delivered to Stadt.

Wednesday 18th April. As is my usual custom, I am up first leaving John
to snooze. I had cocoa read and we dined off tinned meat, bread and
jam. Dinner two soups, mashed potatoes, pancakes, tea, chips and
bacon (Gute Essen). Washed shirt and vest in morning and put them
back again 2 p.m. lovely day. Had slice of bread and fatty bacon given
by good friend. 2 p.m. gave us 2 eggs, 2 slices bread and some bacon.
Moving at 4 p.m. - bombers over again. On our way again 4 p.m.
entered small Stadt of Berching - ancient place, dates back some
1,000 years - wall built round and river through centre, just the artists
delight, quaint house, round church very old. Followed railroad and
canal 9 km till we reached Beilngries. I noticed practically in every
Stadt one finds Hitler Platz, Hindenburgring etc. Had 3 km climb to
village of Amtmansdorf. Eighty men missing from party, all our
cooks missing. Took with them 3 to 4 kilos bread and left us 7 men to
1 kilo loaf, which was issued at 4 p.m. before we started out (It was
pudding, not bread, with a few raisins added it would have made
Christmas pudding). Bakers I have never seen before like these chaps.
Arrive at destination at 9 p.m. Had cocoa and bread and bacon and
slept.

Thursday 19th April. Awake and about by 7.30 a.m. Had Jerry coffee for
breakfast, learned that 15 men had been recaptured, some returned
here (scoundrels most of them). Moving out of Amtmansdorf. Now 3
p.m. I placed my bag on the truck and for the first time in 19 days I
travelled light. We had only 12 km to go, which turned out to be
correct. The journey was done mostly through country. The first
village being Bitz and next Zandt our destination. I got some bread
which just did us for our tea ration, and we were billeted in a
Gasthaus, the best billets for many days. Mashed potatoes on the
menu at 7 p.m. Plenty of Jerries in this village.

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