大象传媒

Upon arrival at the wartime airfield in Buckinghamshire on Empire Day 24th May,1945, we were immediately deloused. This was particularly embarrassing because we were then taken along to a large hangar and sat at long tables, filled with all sorts of goodies. With white powder on our heads W.A.A.F girls waited on us. They could not understand why so little had been eaten, even suggested that we must be shy. I must say that it was indeed very strange to be back into the world of women once again.

The following two days were spent in a depot where records had to be prepared, followed by a most exciting chat about the wonderful new United Nations organisation which had been proposed. Finally, an officer asked me if I wished to remain in the Army, to which I very quickly replied 'No thank-you, Sir' He did not express any undue surprise and admitted that I must certainly have had enough of it. All at once I felt as free as a bird, after he had told me that I could now go home!

On 26th May,1945 I was once again back in my hometown of Trowbridge, Wiltshire and once again enjoying the sight of the White Horse on the Westbury Hills in the distance. Quite unexpectedly, my Aunt came hurrying up from Rozel Hotel, Weston-s-Mare,to welcome me back,saying that this was the best birthday present she had ever had! My Mother said that she hardly recognised me because, like all other POWs, I was naturally suffering with malnutrition

Strange to relate. although we all thought we would not stop eating once home, the opposite was true in my case. Even gave my egg ration to my Mother! I did however, have a feeling that I wanted to do something dangerous, for some strange reason. Think it was because everything now seemed so utterly quiet.

By my reckoning, it had been some 2,045 days ago since I had left home in order to join up - approximately 833 days spent in four POW camps - two in Italy, one in each of Eastern Germany and Czechoslovakia.

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Pre war, a party of eight of us, including a Welsh schoolmaster( Mr C.A. Head ), who taught German at Dauntsey's School, set out from Victoria Station in London on the 15th April, 1935, for a fortnight in Koblenz-am-Rhein, Germany. On arrival at Koblenz Main Station, we received an official welcome by the Mayor and a member of each of four families with whom we were to stay. We had been notified before arrival with whom each couple were to stay.
My friend and I were allocated to a merchant. Needless to say we conjured up all manner of visions as to the nature of business this person conducted. Having all shaken hands, my friend and I jumped into the back of a very nice Opel car and very soon arrived at a magnificent modern house. This had wide steps and several pillars. They said that they were very proud of it, because it was built in the English style!
It was situated on the island of Oberwerth. (not exactly an island, being connected to land by roadway)

Because we were due to leave on 30th April and General Goering was due to visit the city on that very day, our schoolmaster had to cable our headmaster back home at Dauntsey's School. hoping to be granted the extra day. He duly granted his approval. We were due back at school on 2nd May! The family made it be known that they would have been insulted had we not stayed that extra day.

On 20th April it had been Hitler's birthday and I have never seen so many swastika flags in my life - small ones flying from every side window and large ones in every front.

We watched the big parade from the balcony of their massive Ladies' Modehouse. Storm Troopers were lining the main street below, not by holding hands but a short length of strap between each other's hands. The Luftwaffe was flying overhead. We had witnessed a parade of the Labour Korps passing along with gleaming picks, shovels, etc.

Early that morning Herr Schmitz had come downstairs at breakfast time in his Nazi Uniform, which shocked us somewhat. It has to be remembered, however, that if in business one had to comply, otherwise the business would be confiscated. Did not notice the son in the Labour Korps procession.

In a moment of indecision, I quickly turned to ask Frau Schmitz what exactly the two of us should do by way of saluting and she replied "Oh, you better do ze same" Consequently, we stood and did the Nazi salute!!! What else could we possibly have done in such embarrassing circumstances???

I took a photograph of the great man (?), but never knew whether it was successful or not, because it was left behind on returning to school and completely forgotten by the end of term.

When out in the city later on, Goering was heard to be ranting away against England - nearly every other word was 'England'. it seemed.

Apparently Hitler himself had been due to come and plant a tree, but Goering deputised for him. Only hope the dogs appreciated that tree afterwards!

Upon departure, the family photographed us, bade a fond 'Aufwiedersehen' and begged us not to go away and forget them, as many others had done.

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Forward to the spring of 1948. I had mentioned earlier in this story that we POWs had often wondered if we were ever likely to meet an airman who had ever bombed the Herrmann Goering Works, whilst we were in Camp IVc in the Sudetenland. Well, by sheer coincidence, this actually happened. While my wife and I were tenants of the Victoria Inn at Sigginstone, in the Vale of Glamorgan, an airman and his female friend called in one evening from the nearby St.Athan R.A.F. station. He asked me where exactly those works were situated, then confessed that he had in fact dropped bombs on it many times!
So my next question was, obviously, did he know exactly where the POW camps were situated? To this he said he knew they were in the area, but not exactly where!

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