MAKING A LAWN

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 100, 21 December 1943, Page 1

MAKING A LAWN

HOW N.Z. PRISONERS

"HELPED"

UNION JACK IN NAZI PRISON

CAMP

A New Zealand soldier who recently reached home after spending two years and a half as a prisoner iof war in Germany said that the Germans wanted the men to do work of importance to the Nazi war effort. In some instances- fit men had to .do it, but the great aim of the prisoners was, as far as possible, to dio nothing really useful. He was with a party that was given jobs ion a big aerodrome, and was surprised when one of the Germans came up and said to him: "I understand that ycm are a gardener?" The New Zealander did not know, what lay,behind the "Inquiry, but suspected a joke. However, though his knowledge of gardening was of the scantiest, he admitted that gardening was his real interest in life, reports the Dominion- The German replied that he was the man they wanted and went on to explain that a lawn had to be sown down outside some mess or other building. The prisoner could not see how making- a lawn—of which, by the way, he did not know the first thingI—could assist the German war effort, and at ,o,nce untfertoSß the work. But he explained that his wounds prevented him from doing any hard work—such as digging— and suggested that some of his comrades should be told off for that job. This was .done, and it was surprising how many men were found to be necessary. Then commenced the world's long distance record in lawn-making. It took a surprising time. When in doubt they turned the soil over again, and* as it was well worked up that was not arduous.

But at last the time came when the grass seed simply had to be sown, so the alleged gardener proceeded to take some careful measurements. He determined the exact centre of the lawn and then drew as accurately as he could, a plan of a Union Jack. Then he sowed the seed so that it would come up to display the design and made what provision he could to make it prominent. The little area of lawn was sown, and the job was ended. It had lasted well. The men returned to the prison camp, and a little later some of them were sent off in a party to be repatriated. And 5 one of them still hopes that when that grass grew there was an easily reasrif 9s; 'mai naw s» ass 'adornta *the

Opportunities do not come with their values stamped upon them. Everyone must be challenged. A day dawns, quite like other days- in it a single hour comes, quite like other hours; but in that day and in that hour the chance of a lifetime faces^us. To face every .opportunity of life thoughtfully and ask ite meaning bravely and earnestly is the only way to meet the supreme opportunities when they come whether open-faced or disguised.— Maltbie Babcock.