N.Z. BRIGADIER ESCAPES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23701, 28 July 1942, Page 4

N.Z. BRIGADIER ESCAPES

PRISONER FOR A DAY WOUNDED BROUGHT TO SAFETY (Official War Correspondent, NJZ.E.F.) WESTERN DESERT, July 23. For the second time in this campaign, a New Zealand brigadier has been captured by the enemy sand has escaped. Early yesterday morning a brigadier of the 3rd contingent was taken prisoner by tanks. A bid for freedom in a small car failed when, after proceeding about half a mile, the car was hit by a shell. Tanks then appeared on the scene and the party was forced to surrender. \ 1 Throughout the day the brigadier remained with a medical orderly and others, acting as a stretcher-bearer and attending the wounded, frequently under the shell-fire of our guns. Later, the enemy removed some wounded in trucks and the brigadier and his party prepared to make their escape, arming themselves and carrying handgrenades. They were heard by a listening post which investigated while the New Zealanders hid in slit trenches. The lightest wounded'were taken away then, and the stretcher cases about midnight. When the coast seemed clear the party made its way past pockets of German infantry and tanks to our lines, which were reached about 3.30 this morning. The men slept in the sand until daylight, when they found themselves close to our divisional headquarters.