大象传媒

Chapter 22.2

Week Commencing Sunday 11th February 1945

A much better week from all points of view, I am feeling the effects of a parcel a week, the strain of eking ones food out has gone, the continual thinking of food has disappeared although one still feels hungry. But how long will it last, our parcels will run out twice as quick and what then?

Week Commencing Sunday 18th February 1945

Hunger certainly affects sleep, I find now that it is better to eat late and I get a good nights sleep. Much the same as last week but sleeping better, don't feel like taking exercise yet. This has been a record breaking ninth night, the disturbances have been quite long. Quite a good amount of mail this week but I have been unlucky, how I am longing for news of you Kit, it is nearly 2 months since I heard.

Week Commencing Sunday 25th February 1945

This week has been governed by the news that Red Cross parcels are to be cut to 陆 a parcel a week. I have been expecting it but thoughts are nevertheless turning towards food. Letter received from Mum during week, much appreciated but one from Kit is what I want, maybe before week is out I shall get one. I never received a letter from Kit after all, felt rather sad about it. The weather is extraordinary, sunshine one-minute snow the next.

Week Commencing Sunday 4th March 1945

The thoughts of everyone are towards food, in addition to Red Cross parcel shortage there is a reduction of German rations, especially bread and potatoes, 40% in the two main items. Next week it has been found necessary to have 1 meal a day instead of 2, there has not been enough for 2 meals.

Week Commencing Sunday 11th March 1945

A more interesting week, I received letters from Kit and Derek. The ration cut and one meal a day took effect this week. I felt very bad at beginning of the week, the Doctor ordered me to hospital, but I would not go, after a day in bed I felt better. Next week I have to feed at the hospital because I have lost so much weight.

Week Commencing Sunday 18th March 1945
A much better week, I have had my food at the hospital and as a result I feel better, not that one gets more food it is better prepared. Weather is very good, shorts is the order of the day. The war is getting much closer and causing excitement daily, in view of recent events there is much speculation as to what will happen to us, I do hope that we do not move. Derek's letter was very cheering, I am afraid that I will have to destroy all my letters.

Week Commencing Sunday 25th March 1945

What a week, it started off with great news (American Army close) and 2 days of intense excitement thinking we were to be liberated. Then came the order to move, should we be saved, the suspense was terrible. We were hoping for the train to be smashed, but the clouds were too low for flying. Then they arrived, how we cheered but unfortunately the damage was insufficient to stop the train running.

Week Commencing Sunday 1st April 1945

The queerest Easter Sunday I have ever spent; although I am a POW, I am writing this to all intents and purposes a free man, it is simply marvellous. We left camp last night and entrained, the train leaving at 2 am. We travelled through the night a bit cramped, 35 to a goods truck, there were no incidents. This morning at 6.30 we stopped owing to aircraft activity and left the train and are not boarding again before this evening, so we are spending the day sitting by a river and allowed to roam almost anywhere, the guards although many do not appear interested. It is sunny; we can see our strafing planes around keeping clear of a bridge nearby. There are little groups of us all up this valley just strolling it is really marvellous, the scenery is wonderful, we keep hearing the Crump! Crump! - Will the Yanks catch up with us? Last night we got into the train again, did not get far before a halt. This morning, it is our wedding anniversary, so Kit you can guess how I feel. I was hoping to be with you Kit by this date, I know you will be thinking of me as I am of you. We are still only 50 miles from Weinsberg and have left the train and again are all in the open, not such a good place as yesterday, but have managed to make a cup of tea. The sun is shining brightly, our aircraft are strafing nearby. Another night in the train saw us passing through Armsbeck and Munich the following morning, Wednesday 4th April, and arriving back at Moosburg at 11.50, we did not reach camp until 5 pm, we slept rough that night. After reaching Moosburg the first 2 days were grim, no beds, little food except Red Cross parcels, we slept in old stables and cooked our own food, tore the place to bits for fuel. Then we moved, had a bath and deloused, we were allotted huts, which had no beds and were expected to sleep on the floor, and the food was very dirty and served at irregular intervals. Rumours were rife, the next day getting wireless news from England; we are all very optimistic and wondering.

Week Commencing 5th April 1945

I do not know what to make of things. Red Cross are giving us food but have to cook individually, some game, Mick, Phil and I together spend our days cooking under the most difficult conditions and terrible accommodation. I saw Stillwell and Boniface arrive they were a disgusting sight, I visited the troops compound, our conditions were bad but they were worse off, I gave a lot of my kit to them, thank goodness the weather is good.

Week Commencing 15th April 1945

Conditions are still very bad especially the sleeping accommodation that is infested with fleas, water is now the chief difficulty. We are still cooking for ourselves and Americans have moved into our huts.

Week Commencing 22nd April 1945

The huts have become crowded, hardly any German supplied food fortunately Red Cross parcels are regular. We are still cooking for ourselves, but it is not very good. I am still hoping against hope that all will be ended soon.

Week Commencing 29th April 1945

Rumours of all kinds abound, the SBO sees a SS General during the night. Aircraft are flying around above the camp. We got a wireless message for our camp. Guns can be heard but we have heard them so often, I cannot explain my feelings, I feel quiet, some are excited, we then heard small arms fire echoing around camp and we spot our tanks. Small arms fire continues and Yanks get to the gate at 1000. It doesn't seem true. At 1245 the Stars and Stripes is raised on a tower in Moosburg, a great cheer goes up. I wonder how longer before I see Kit, I am still expecting to be moved to a Troops Battalion with David. Now rumours are flying around it is no use paying attention not until I put foot in England shall I believe. How shall I word my first telegram? It is a real treat to listen to the wireless, it will not sink in yet that we are more or less free although we cannot move about yet because not far away the battle is raging. I still cannot realise it all everything at sixes and sevens, but it is still German and Red Cross.

Tuesday - Now I have a roaring cold just as I did when leaving Italy. General Patton visited camp and was disgusted at conditions, he ordered our immediate evacuation but it is all muddled.

Wednesday - A horrible day, raining, I feel very bad but must not visit doctor or our '25' plan for the plane will be messed up. We receive information that we have drawn 2nd to move, I cannot believe that. I am going to see Kit, yet it all seems wrong. We are down to move at 0730, this is altered to 0900 Thursday.

Thursday - We are actually moving, American lorries take us 40 to a lorry, what a crush, Landshutte. Flying conditions are bad and so cannot fly and we are billeted in 28 Regensbergerstrasse Landshutte, 8 of us in a small bedroom, but we can put up with it the Germans have been ordered out of the flat, we raided their larder and found jam, sugar and wine, we had no conscience about it because they would have done the same to our houses. It is a child鈥檚 bedroom. I feel sorry for them but eat their food. We might fly home tonight or tomorrow.

Friday - Good soft sleep, plenty to eat, American rations. Hoping to move on today.

Saturday - Still at Landshutte.

At last we land in England at 0820 on Tuesday 8th May 1945.

MOVES SINCE CAPTURE
1 Feb 1942 Caught at Tocra-taken back to Benghazi
4 Feb 1942 Left Benghazi arrived Chemins
5 Feb 1942 Left Chemins arrived El Agalia
6 Feb 1942 Left El Agalia arrived Baurat
7 Feb 1942 Left Baurat arrived Tarhuna
23 Feb 1942 Left Tarhuna pm
24 Feb 1942 Arrived Tripoli left Tripoli pm
26 Feb 1942 Arrived Palermo Sicily pm
27 Feb 1942 Left Palermo pm
28 Feb 1942 Arrived Naples
1 Mar 1942 Left Naples arrived Capua
25 Mar 1942 Left Capua arrived Padula
31 Jul 1943 Left Padula
3 Aug 1943 Arrived Bologna
11 Sep 1943 Left Bologna arrived Modena
14 Sep 1943 Arrived Moosburg
20 Sep 1943 Left Moosburg
21 Sep 1943 Arrived Strasbourg
9 Oct 1943 Left Strasbourg arrived Weinsberg

This story was compiled and edited by Rodney Pocock from diaries written during the time his father was in captivity.

The parts of the diary referring to Quentin Reynolds and the action when he was captured on the 1st February 1942 are described in detail at Part 4 in the book by G D Martineau:

History of the Royal Sussex Regiment

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