- Contributed by听
- Bernard de Neumann
- People in story:听
- Peter de Neumann, GM, Captain Dobeson
- Location of story:听
- West Africa, Conakry, Sahara Timbuctoo, Kankan
- Background to story:听
- Civilian Force
- Article ID:听
- A8022368
- Contributed on:听
- 24 December 2005
Two kms before reaching the border both back tyres of the leading lorry burst. It was impossible for the other lorries to pass us as the road was barely the width of the lorry. Therefore, we all jumped out and quickly walked the remaining two Kms. Here the road ended. Two French Officers escorted us through the bush along a twisting and turning path which I understood was about two Kms in length. This was very difficult to follow. Eventually we arrived at the road again. We were now at the border of Sierra Leone. As we stepped to freedom the first to greet us were a British Colonel and Major. These gave us a real welcome and three large motor-trucks awaited us. After this there was little delay. We were soon running swiftly and smoothly along well-constructed roads. These British lorries are like Rolls-Royces compared with the French ones the other side. A few miles along the road we made a halt - there a cup of tea was ready for us and a supply of clothing for those who were urgently in need. We then continued our journey to Port Loko. Here everything that was humanly possible was done for our comfort. The Officers' Mess was thrown open to us all and here we heard the Radio news the first time for eighteen months. Decent food, hot baths and plenty- of up-to-date papers and magazines were placed at our disposal. It was grand to be back in civilisation once again and among our own countrymen. Here we rested for 36 hours and then left for Freetown by lorry; we arrived there about 2 p.m. on December 18th, 1942.
NOTES ON PREVIOUS DATA
June 21st 1941 Interned in Native camp 7 Kms out of Conakry.
July 22nd 1941 Transferred to Tomba Native school at Conakry.
September 26th 1941 Left Conakry by train - covered 294 Kms that day and arrived at Mamu.
September 27th 1941 Left Mamu - covered 367 Kms and arrived at Kan Kan that night.
September 28th 1941 Left Kan Kan by lorry - covered 115 Kms that day and arrived at Siguri.
September 29th 1941 Left Siguri by lorry at 9.30 a.m. - covered 236 Kms and arrived at Bamako that night.
October 2nd 1941 Left Bamako by train - for Koulikoro - about 60 Kms. Left again that afternoon in barges - towed by the stern-wheeler MARECHAL GALLIANI.
October 7th 1941 Arrived at Kabara at 10.30 a.m. - marched 8 Kms and arrived at Timbuctoo at 12 noon that day.
August 5th 1942 Left Timbuctoo for Port Caron.
August 6th 1942 Left Port Caron in the stern-wheeler MARECHAL GALLIANI.
August 24th 1942 Arrived at Kan Kan.
August 25th 1942 Arrived 4 Kms distant at Bordo camp.
December 14th 1942 Left Bordo camp - arrived Mamu that night.
December 15th 1942 Arrived Conakry the following night.
December 16th 1942 Repatriated into British territory. Arrived Port Lokko that night. Rested there 36 hours and left for Freetown.
December 18th 1942 Arrived at Freetown about 2 p.m.
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