大象传媒

This story was submitted to the peoples war website by simon gulliford from st georges school broadstairs and has been added on behalf of Mr Arthur Matthews with his permission.

At 17 I joined the Navy in 1944. One night I found myself on guard duty. A german POW had escaped and was on the loose.I had never stayed up very late in my life and found myself having to stay up between 12 and 2 am in a concrete look out box. It was a very cold and dark november night and I found myself freezing cold. So I put my hands in my pockets and and moved to the back of my box. The Lt commander came around to check everyone was alert. I did not hear him tapping the box with a stick and blowing a whistle. i was put ijn a cell for not being alert and given a full court martial. This took place on deck with everyone on full parade. My silk was taken off me and my shoelaces removed. i was given 7 days in prison with 3 days bread and water and three days oakum picking. I realised that had this have been duirng the great war then I may well have been shot.

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