GREECE ESCAPE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20631, 12 August 1941, Page 6

GREECE ESCAPE

AUCKLAND SERGEANT 300-MILE TREK ON FOOT A 300-mile “tour” of Greece on foot, occupying 19 days, during which he saw the Germans entering Athens for their victory march, and a journey of about 120 miles to Crete in an open fishing boat, a*re described by Sergeant J. B. Negus, of the Middle East Forces, in a letter to his parents at St. Heliers Bay, Auckland. Sergeant Negus returned safely to Egypt. “We had been in contact with Jerry for about six days and. although hopelessly outnumbered, held on, when word came through to retire,” states Sergeant Negus. “We were left behind to fight a rearguard action and hold the position until dark. After dark, which all soldiers now pray for on account of aeroplanes, off we went, as wc thought, for a rest.. After covering only a few miles we discovered we had been surrounded, and it was at this stage that the fun started. Charge Against Road Ambush “Our only hope of getting out was to run the gauntlet and try to break through the German lines. As we were the only armoured vehicles there, it fell to our lot to do the job and charge a road ambush at 10.30 at night. Only four of our carriers were left in commission, and when we reached the centre of the ambush we saw we had been set an impossible task. “After our ammunition was exhausted we were forced to jump for it and make a break. How I got away I cannot yet realise—it seemed that the whole world was trained on me“lt was at this stage that my tour of Greece on foot commenced behind the German lines. I found another two New Zealanders to share the ordeal —a 300-mile march to the south coast, and then whatever fortune had to offer us Pro-British Greeks “With the aid of an army map we set out, travelling at night and hiding in the hills in the daytime. German patrols were posted in every village, and it was only the pro-British attir tude of the people, who helped us in getting food and hiding us, that kept us going. I had the unforgettable experience of being very close to Athens when the Huns had their victory march,, and actually saw them enter the city.' “I was fortunate enough to commandeer an open fishing boat at the soutnernmpst point of Greece, and one night we set out in a fairly heavy sea on a journey which landed us at Crete. We covered the 120-odd miles of the Mediterranean in four days, and words cpnnot describe bur thoughts when We found the island occupied by our own New Zealand troops. “My yachting days stood me in good stead for the trip, but never did I realise when sailing down the Waitemata that the knowledge gained would be the medium of my escape from such an awkward situation.” *