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David Mathews joined the 51st Gordon Highlanders when he was 18 years of age. Only a short time later his Regiment was taken prisoner of ware by the Germans. They were being marched through the woods in France and stopped to go to the toilet. David and his friend, Andrew lagged behind the rest of their regiment and managed to escape. They took refuge in a small village from the 11th November until February, 1941, spending time with various families, protected by the French resistance.

At one point David recalled staying with a watchmaker. He was reading the newspaper one day when a German Soldier came in. The German gave David a long hard stare, but David just sat calmly reading the newspaper until the German left.

When David returned home he had to spend a long time being de-briefed. He was very concerned that his Mother had all the worry of being told officially that David was ‘Missing in Action’. He got a message to her through the French resistance to let her know he was safe and well and his mother had replied to the letter. However, no further contact had been possible.

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