MAJOR'S ESCAPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24000, 25 June 1941, Page 6

MAJOR'S ESCAPE

CAPTIVE IN CBETE

RESCUED FROM GERMANS

THREE DAYS IN PYJAMAS (0.C.) NKW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday How Major 0. F. Bertram!, second in command of 111e Maori Battalion, wa.s a captive of the Germans in Crete hnt escaped has been told in letters received at New Plymouth. Major Bertrand, who in civil life is a master at the New Plymouth Hoys' High School, and tln> rest of the party were rescued by an old hoy oi the school, Lieutenant K. .J. Staunton,

Describing his capture by two Germans while he was dressing a German soldier's wounded chest, Sergeant J. Donaldson, of New Plymouth, wrote: "They inarched me into an area where they had all the hospital patients horded together, about 200 strong. Major Bertram! was among the prisoners. We were kept in this place about six hours. Then we were given orders to move again and I nearly shouted for joy, as J could see we were marching toward my old unit's lines. To cut a long story short, we were saved by a platoon under Lieutenant Kevin Staunton. About eight hospital patients were killed in the bat tie." Another letter relates that Major Bertram! and others lying in a hospital trench in pyjamas were pounded with bombs for two hours. Those at the end of the trench escaped death by a narrow margin and were finally rounded up and, clad only in pyjamas, forced to march ahead of German troops into the hills, although wounded and sick. The men could scarcely crawl. That evening a raid hy a party led by Lieutenant Staunton liberated them. It was three days, however, before Major Bertram! could obtain clothing to replace his pyjamas. Major Bertrand, who fought in the last war, later commanded the Taranaki Regiment with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. When the present war broke out ho wa.s one of the first to enlist.