EXPERIENCES IN BARDIA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23536, 14 January 1942, Page 6

EXPERIENCES IN BARDIA

* Plight of N.Z. ! Prisoners 1100 CONFINED IN SMALL AREA (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, January 11. Conditions described as “absolutely disgusting" were experienced by prisoners held in Bardia for six long weeks before British troops stormed and took the coastal stronghold. Stories differ slightly in detail, but all confirm that about 1100 men were crammed in an area of about an acre without allowance for adequate exercise, and were very scantily fed. A gunner of a field regiment said that he entered Bardia after dark, having marched from 20 to 25 miles since 11 a.m. without food or water. As they passed through wire gates, groups of Italians came running up to stare. Eventually they tumbled into a compound in the centre of the fort. It was a concreted area walled on all sides, 50 yards square, and without a roof. The place was filthy, and they had no food that night. Next morning Germans called for volunteers to clean another compound, to which the prisoners were to be transferred. This took 20 men eight hours. While they were away, the first issue of food arrived shortly after noon, consisting of a small tin of bully beef, reputedly horseflesh, and one roll of German brown bread. Those working in the other compound missed, and spent another night without food. The new compound was no better than the first, except that it was larger. The floor was of broken concrete, and the walls were seven feet high, without a roof. To move was like walking in a big department store on Christmas Eve. In fact, it was worse, since, if one got too far from one’s own square, one had to climb over the others to return. In the first few days, 30 men were taken to scramble down the cliffs to bathe, but this was so fatiguing, especially the return climb, that nobody wished to repeat the experience. After the first day, the men divided into groups and supplied their own cooks and fatigues to gather their own wood. It was during one wood-gather-ing expedition that the only casualty occurred, a bomb falling among the party, killing one. The amount to eat depended on how much the Italians took from the trucks. About three weeks ago they ran out of bread, and substituted dry. hard biscuits, which latterly were full of weevils. The prisoners received two rubbishy cigarettes daily. They were so precious that the New Zealanders used to break off pieces and roll them in ordinary paper. For 11 days and nights it rained intermittently, adding mud to the discomfort. Sometimes they were able to scrounge pieces of tin for covering, the guards refusing to help. Christmas In a Prison Camp UDn Christmas Day, slightly extra ratfljfcs were handed out, and a Holy Communion service was held by a New Zealand padre, who was allowed to visit the men from time to time: This padre started discussions among the men to take their minds off their predicament. On New Year’s Day there was a special issue of 10 cigarettes. The Italians were anxious to get as many prisoners away as possible. Thus when a man reported sick he was put on the list for the next hospital ship. Shen the ship arrived, there were out 300 prospective passengers. A German naval officer questioned the men regarding their health, and declined to take them aboard. The Italian medical officers did not care much, but a very mercenary orderly came Iqbking for the sick, bringing a bag packed with cigarettes instead of medical gear. , , -These he attempted to barter for watches. One man sold a watch valued at £2O for 200 cigarettes and five rolls of bread. Another got four biscuits for a 40s fountain pen. The view that the Germans made the Italians scapegoats in the matter of the attitude towards prisoners was expressed by New Zealand soldiers. One New Zealander who was at Sidi BarrShi last year, and also in Greece and Crete, said: ‘‘The German is very twofaeed. He tried to make himself a gßbd fellow with the prisoners, but actually the Germans made the Italians treat the prisoners badly and came up themselves smiling and offering an occasional cigarette. The result was that everyone thought the Germans good chaps and the Italians lousy. I know better. After the fall of Bardia we fSmd the Germans well stocked and comfortable, and the Italians, on the other hand, had insufficient clothing a|L5 not much to eat. The Italians got a*Tough deal from their German allies.” 'Z Hope of Relief ’All the time there was hope of reÜBf,’ although the Germans and Italians scbfled at the idea of the Bardia defences breaking. For weeks before January 2 there had been rumours of an impending attack. One was particularly strong when two South Africans, freshly captured, told the hopeful Sttsoners that it was coming the next day. Many days passed, and then the Royal Air Force commenced bombing from daylight to dark, aeroplanes coming over in twelves. More than 100 daily swooped, bombed and strafed tot the great discomfort of the Italians. "We thought the bombers knew where we were, but afterwards found that they did not,” said a gunner of a field regiment. ‘‘We were pretty nervous as it was. and it would have Wen a lot worse if we had known, f Another man said: “After the Royal Air Force the Navy opened up and then the Army from the other side. Mfe were right in the centre of the target area. It was a miracle we got out alive. Shells landed in corners of: the compound and shrapnel plastered the walls, yet nobo ’ v was hurt, latterly the men had been given a lew picks and shovels to dig in. ' "The Italians and Germans seemed unable to cope with the situation and their replies were rather ineffective. Their main gun. a large naval piece picknamed ‘Bardia Bill’ was not used to full advantage. '■“ Contrasted against their conditions, the men had visual encouragement of seeing the enemy going under —burning transport stores, oil and munitions i mingling with the explosions of burst-, Ing shells. At last on the morning, of January 2 the first British tanks! crashed through the barricades and the j town was soon in our hands.” j