大象传媒

My uncle was a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 8. He was one of two prisoners with the surname 鈥淛ames鈥�, the other being an Australian prisoner. Every prisoner had a number, and every day the Germans would do a roll call. Each prisoner had to answer when their surname was called out, and the call out their number. Although supposed to check both name and number, the Germans just ticked off that each name had been answered.

One day, the Australian decided that he and another prisoner was going to escape. My uncle agreed to cover for him. During the next roll call, he waited for his name to be called, and then shouted out his number. A few more names, and then 鈥淛ames鈥� was called again. Again my uncle called out his number. Again he was ticked off.

When they got to the end, the Germans realised they were one short, so they die the roll call again. This time they did it properly, and checked the numbers. 鈥淛ames鈥�, he answered and gave his number. 鈥淛ames鈥�, again he answered and gave his number. The Germans noticed that my uncle had given his number twice, and went ballistic as they now realised they were two men missing and not one!

My uncle got 21 days in solitary confinement for his part in the deception. When he got out, he met the guard who had been on duty at the time of the escape. The Guard asked how much punishment he had got. My uncle told him 鈥�21 Days鈥�. 鈥�21? I got 28鈥� the German replied!

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