TREK BY NIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 23, 27 July 1942, Page 7

TREK BY NIGHT

A THRILLING ESCAPE

*(N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) x CAIRO, July 25. A thrilling single-handed escape, followed by a gruelling sixty-five mile trek across the desert, with nothing to guide Mm except the stars, with very, little food and water, and practically no sleep, was recently made by Captain R. R. T. Young, of Wellington, who is now back with his battalion ready ■to fight again., The journey, which was made on foot, took four nights and four days. He could travel only at night, and spent the days lying under the'scanty shelter of desert scrub. The fierce sun made sleep impossible. The officer took part in the celebrated advance, on the night of July 14. His battalion attained its objective, but morning found its remnants surrounded by tanks, and many ■were taken prisoner. Once rounded ■up, they were hurried off at a fast pace tot ten miles to the north-west under a strong guard. They then embussed and were driven across • country to Adda Aba, which was reached at 4 pm. The officers were there immediately searched and placed behind wire. The New Zealand captain, . hoping even at that stage to escape had mixed with the rank and file. While waiting, they were told that they were all to b£ taken to Mersa Matruh or Tobruk for shipment to Italy. In the meantime, the officer waited his chance, and, edging round a guard hut, he managed to dart in. Finding it empty, he grabbed a water-bottle three-quarters full of coffee. This he. tipped into his own bottle, and he was also able to pick up a packet of biscuits, He then rejoined a file of waiting men and watched for the next opportunity. Not long afterwards he made a dash t and dropped behind a pile of tins, where he lay unnoticed till it was almost dark, dozing while he lay. All that day he had had nothing to eat and only a little water to drink. When he woke he dodged the guard and crawled about 400 yards; then, crossing the railway, headed south over the desert. He had neither map, compass, watch, nor arms; and, what was most trying, on his head during the succeeding days he had no hat. Travelling by the stars, he went 15 miles due south for two nights. During the day he lay beneath bracken, trying to ward Off the swarms of flies. He sighted only one enemy patrol during this time, and was not noticed. At the end of the second day he was down to a single tablespoonful of coffee, though his biscuits and emergency ration were still almost untouched owing to the lack of liquid to go with them. On the third night he started out early to try to find water, hoping to come across an Italian truck wnose driver he might be able to intimidate. Instead he found a broken-down Italian ambulance in which he discovered a tin of meat extract, which was very welcome. Before it was dark he encountered a herd of camels, with Bedouins in charge, and they gave him some water. That night he travelled ten miles south-east and ten east, still by the stars, and arrived at daybreak behind what looked like an Italian echelon in a largish wadi. He had an anxious moment when he spotted one man coming out to seek him. He ducked behind a bush, and the searcher, who did not seem very keen,1 retraced his steps after a perfunctory glance around. That night was the worst he experienced for heat and flies. He made his way through the Italian lines, and was challenged once and at another time hailed, but each time he was able to make a reply, something like a German word or two, and got through. At 3 o'clock in the morning he arrived among the New Zealand battalion, thoroughly exhausted.