EVADED CAPTORS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20620, 22 November 1941, Page 4

EVADED CAPTORS

GISBORNE SOLDIER ESCAPE FROM ATHENS FIVE-DAY SEA JOURNEY Brief to the point of bluntness is the story told by Second-Lieutenant Jas. W. Craig in letters to his parents in Gisborne of his escape from a warprisoners’ camp and his safe arrival in Alexandria with a party of British soldiers after a five-day journey across the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Second-Lieutenant Craig, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Craig, was taken prisoner in Crete during the campaign in which the New Zealand Division played a big part. Held on the island pending transfer to the mainland, he succeeded in escaping to Athens, and from there secured a boat in which he and his party sailed to Egypt.

“We had a pretty hot time in Crete, and were lucky to come out of it at all. I had some prettey interesting experiences, however, and after our escape we lived with Greek people until September 26, when I managed to finalise arrangements for us to leave the country,” he writes.

“During my stay in Athens, I was able, owing to my swarthy complexion, to move about fairly freely, unlike some others whom I knew had to stay indoors the whole time. The Greeks were extremely good to us, providing us with everything we needed. The boat we crossed the Aegean and Mediterranean in to Alexandria was about 30ft. long, and had a small Diesel motor, so we made pretty good time, about 140 miles a day, the whole trip taking five days’ travelling time, although on one island we lived for four days and on another for one day, getting food and water. “I am unable to give you any particulars regarding our trip, as it may be used by others, of whom there are many in hiding over there. I am pretty well, although my muscles have become flabby, and it will take a lot of hard training to get fighting at once more.”