Long Captivity Ends

Northern Advocate, 19 May 1945, Page 6

Long Captivity Ends

After being a prisoner in enemy hands since 1941, Sergeant Terence McKoy has arrived safely in England where he is in hospital. Advice to this effect has been received by his parents, Mr and Mrs G. A. R. McKoy, of Whangarei. Well-known in Northland where he was a school-teacher, Sergeant McKoy followed his profession at Oromahoe, Pakaraka, Waima, Hokonui and at Whangarei. He was a keen sportsman, plying representative cricket for South Taranaki and Whangarei and being prominent in boxing, swimming

and hockey. He went overseas with the Second Echelon, serving in England, Egypt, Greece and Crete, being reported missing from Crete and later notified as a prisoner-of-war. In escaping from Greece, Sergeant McKoy had a thrilling experience. It took him nearly 16 days to reach Crete by walking, mule, transport and by rowing and sailing boats. He crossed the Corinth Canal in a commandeered train with an Australian menacing the driver with a revolver. Finally, his party, including two New Zealanders, three Australians and 19 Englishmen, escaped in a motor boat and a towed dinghy. As they were swimming to the motorboat they were machine-gunned by the Germans. In the boat they travelled 160 miles. As a prisoner in Germany, Sergeant McKoy played for an all New Zealand team against an English team, top-scoring in the first innings with 50, a wound to the left arm having healed.

L./Cpl. W. R. (“WINK” ADAMS

Cabled advice has been received by Mr and Mrs Len Adams, of 41 Main’s Avenue, Whangarei, that their son, L./Cpl. W. R. (“Wink”) Adams, has arrived safely in England. L./Cpl. Adams left New Zealand with the First Echelon and was taken prisoner on February 1, 1941. .He was attached as a driver to the Long Range Desert Group, and, with Major Clayton, of England, and Pte. Roderick, of Nelson, was one of the first prisoners taken in the desert. Transferred to an Italian prisoner-of-war camp he was in Bari one day before the British arrived but was quickly transferred to Germany. 5 ; : * * ❖

Pte. W. B. JONES

Mr and Mrs M. E. Jones, 54, Maunu Road, Whangarei, have been advised that their son, Pte. W. B. Jones, who has been a prisoner of war in Italy and Germany for three years, has arrived safely in England. He is 27 years old and went through Greece and Crete, being captured at El Alamein.