CAPTIVE AIR MARSHAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24633, 14 June 1941, Page 8

CAPTIVE AIR MARSHAL

LIFE IN ITALIAN VILLA BRITISH DOMESTIC STAFF LONDON, May 31. News of Air Marshal O. T. Boyd’s life as a prisoner of war in Italy has been received from a British airman, who is acting as his servant. Air Marshal Boyd was captured by the Italians when flying to the Middle East to take up an appointment last winter. His aeroplane made a forced descent in Sicily. In a letter home from a camp at Sulmona, about 80 miles east of Rome, Leading Aircraftman Arnold McWhinnie, whose mother lives in the Isle of Man, states: — “Air Marshal Boyd arrived at Sulmona on Christmas Eve. and, being the equivalent of a general in the army, is Well looked after. They gave him a fine villa, formerly owned by a nobleman, and also sent two Air Force sergeants to look after him. One sergeant is the cook, the other a kind of butler, and I am a butler-cum-valet to the marshal and his, aide-de-camp. “As we were bearded and wearing Italian clothes, the marshal and his aide-de-camp believed we were Italian soldiers. It was very amusing when they found out we were British. It happened when I was serving dinner on the first night. “1 had not previously spoken to them, and when I eventually did say something to the aide-de-camp, he turned to the marshal in amazement and said; ‘Does not the man speak perfect English sir? ’ I told them. I was a .British airman, and didn’t they laugh!”