大象传媒

February 11th.
Herrendorf. We were billeted in a large shed. There was a small amount of straw on the floor. Wet, of course, and no rations. We have heard that there there is fighting in Berlin; hence the lack of food.

February 12th.
It is very cold and windy. We were surprised to hear that we were going to get some grub at mid-day and we did! We had sauerkraut, spuds, and horse-meat, which was very stringy and sweet. Lofty managed to bribe a guard with half a bar of soap so he could do a bit of scrounging. What he got, he ate himself. I don't blame him, he is a big lad. The weather is improving. Went out in the woods to do some chopping and we were given a loaf of bread which we shared between us.

February 13th.
No rumours of the war. Did more wood chopping. It is surprising how weak we are; I find the axe is heavy, but we did not get any extra bread.

February 14th.
No sign of moving yet. We had some ersatz coffee today and it was awful! More rumours. I think it is only the thought that the war is nearing its end that keeps the chaps going.

February 17th.
We have forgotten what it is like to have a good nights sleep. There is only one thought in the men's minds, and that is food. A lone aircraft flew our way and dropped a bomb not too far away. There is a rumour that we are going to get some Red Cross parcels today; what a hope! I exchanged a pullover for a small loaf. We don't have much clothing left to barter with.

February l8th.
We have not heard any more news of the Russians, or when we will leave this village of Herrendorf. Had a really good chat about the balls-up in France, and why the general staff thought that the war was going to be the same as the 1914 鈥� 18 war. We came to the conclusion that they hadn't a clue! It is a lovely day, and two new guards have turned up. They tell us the war is nearly over. Went out wood chopping again. What they are giving us to eat these days, I cannot describe. It goes straight through you, non-stop.

February 19th.
At 6.30 am we were turned out, left Herrendorf, and we joined up with a group of Russian, Polish, Serb, Czech and British POWs. Arrived at Friesedorf (B艡ezn谩). We were put in a large factory, the Russians in the top part of the building, and us below. There were a lot of holes in the ceiling and the stinking, lousy Russians used the holes to sh*t through and we copped for it!

February 20th.
Left Friesedorf after a sleepless night being p*ssed on and sh*t on by the Russians. Not only that, we have only been given a small lump of bread for today's rations. It was very heavy going today, uphill all the way and he road was covered with ice. We passed through Landskron (Lan拧kroun). Billeted for the night in a large barn. Plenty of straw, the place stinks to high heaven. The Russians were here last night and left their calling cards. Sh*t and p*ss everywhere so one had to look in the straw before you laid your head down.

February 21st.
Stopped in Landskron. I don't think dry bread and water is very good for marching on.

February 24th.
Up at 5 am, we were kept writing for two hours in the cold and then set off for Chot臎nice, passing through Hr谩dek where we stopped and were given a very thin soup.

February 25th.
Pouring with rain. Passed a lot of POWs from Tetschen. Saw a few chaps that we knew. A lot of Greeks, British, Italians and Poles passed us. We all had a slice of dry dread for our rations today. Two squaddies decided that they'd had enough and tried to get away but they were soon caught and got a beating from the guards. We could not do anything.

February 27th.
It is pouring with rain as the guards turned us out. Again we had to wait in the rain. It is a regular thing now, to keep us waiting before we move off. The guards did not like it either. After all, they had to cover the same distance as us. The rumours are that three of our chaps have been shot trying to get away. All balls! We have been warned enough times that if any man escaped, it would mean that 12 POWs would be picked out and shot. Managed to get a bowl of soup from a Czech lady.

February 28th.
Heading for K枚niggr盲tz (Hradec Kr谩lov茅). We have left the forest behind and are heading for open country. We are feeling the cold wind as it blows across the open country. Once again we are told that we are to be put on trains to get away from the Russians, who are not far away. Bullsh*t! I must tell you about K枚niggr盲tz; looking around you can see for miles. Strangely enough, it seems that in the middle of the plain, the ground rises up in the middle like huge pudding. On top is the small town of K枚niggr盲tz.
We arrived there as dusk was falling and we passed under the large archway of a very old castle. We were split up as usual and my party followed the guard up some stone steps. We were taken to a room and the guard counted us as we went in. It was a large room but there were about 50 of us so it was mad scramble to get a place to sleep on the floor. We managed to keep together and lay down on the cold stone floor underneath an open window. After a while I decided to have a look through the window and I was surprised at the view. I could see for miles over the plains, which were covered in snow. But what caught my eye was the six black lines that were wriggling and moving towards us. They were refugees coming from all directions. Where in the name of Hell they were they going, I did not find out.
I lay down between Lofty and Bunny and tried to sleep but the stone floor was too cold. It went straight through to the very marrow. It was still dark when the guards came to turn us out, and with a lot of swearing etc., we were paraded and counted. Then we got on the move again; where to, God knows.
Some hours later we arrived at a farm. We new what to expect. We were given a small piece of bread and some watery cabbage soup, then we were split up into small groups and herded into the barns. The stink was vile but we had to lay down somewhere. All that one could hear was 鈥淵ou dirty stinking, rotten bastards, stinking Russkie sh*t-bags.鈥� Bunny cussed to high heaven as he stood in a pool of sh*t. I called them everything under the sun as I pulled at a bundle of straw and got a handful of sh*t. It was terrible, but somehow we managed to clear a space and get our heads down for a couple of hours.

March 1st.
Started off towards Dresden. We are in luck as the civvies are giving us bread and soup. We all managed to get some, even Harry. It as come light that we are 'lousy.' I found 4 big lice on my goolies. I ain't the only one, the boys are all scratching like mad. There is no doubt that the treatment we are getting is lousy. We have not been given any washing arrangements and I have not had a wash for a month now, or taken off my clothing either. I think we must stink like polecats. A lot of refugees have passed us, going in the direction we have come from. So were are we going?

March 2nd.
We have been on the road for five weeks now. The weather is getting warmer and the light of day is lasting longer. It seems to give us a better feeling of life. Oschitz (Ose膷n谩). Another farm and another barn although this is a clean one. We are quite a mixture; Serbs, Greeks, Poles, and our lot - about 180 men. Dresden is now about 300 km away. The weather has changed again! Now very cold and a blizzard is blowing.

March 3rd.
Today the Germans gave out leaflets to us, to join the German Army and form a 'British Free Corps'

March 4th.
Still here. It seems the civvies are having to feed us. The barn is very cold and the wind is blowing through the holes in the walls. We are all shivering like a jelly.

March 5th.
Headed for Kamanec. Snowing very heavily. We are herded into a factory, the Russians in the bottom part and us in the top. A lot of the chaps have a touch of the sh*ts, and with many a laugh, proceeded to drop their loads on the Russians below. Did we hear some choice swear words! Revenge was sweet. No food - we are getting used to the feeling of hunger. On the move again, it is snowing hard and the going is heavy. Passed through Sabotka.

March 6th.
Halted at another farm were we had soup, boiled swedes and barley. The barn is more holes than building. The straw is wet and full of sh*t but we are getting used to this by now. We are reaching the point of no-return.

March 7th.
Stayed at a place called Osek. Stopped here for two days. We all spent as much time as possible resting. There is something wrong with my shoulder, it is rather painful. Feet are beginning to swell up now too. To take off your boots is torture. The war will be over soon! (who says so?)

March 8th.
Jungbunzlau (Mlad谩 Boleslav). The weather is not getting any better. It is hell as we plod along towards Citov. The guards have stopped the civvies from giving us food. The road is covered in ice and mud. It's so cold! Had two slices of dry bread and a raw onion (the first we have seen) for rations. The barn is full of very fine chaff and sh*t. We had a lousy night. The chaff got in our clothes and caused a lot of scratching. It got everywhere and it took weeks to get the bits of straw out of our clothing.

March 9th.
We arrived at Citov where we stopped for two days. It is some consolation that we get a rest now and then but it is cold and the food is just awful. It is just staving off general starvation. Again the guards came and took our names and numbers, what for, don't ask me. We are told that we have five more days to go, and we are going to a Stalag.

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Genevieve Tudor of the 大象传媒 Radio Shropshire CSV Action Desk on behalf of Mark Ruffle and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions

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