ESCAPE FROM CRETE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24715, 18 September 1941, Page 6

ESCAPE FROM CRETE

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS LIVED IN MOUNTAINS SUCCESSFUL BID FOR FREEDOM (Special) INVERCARGILL, Sept. 17. A remarkable story of the escape of an Invercargill soldier from a German prison camp in Crete has just been revealed. He is Private H. C. Poole, son of Mr and Mrs A. V. Poole, of Crinan street. Details are meagre as yet, but it is not necessary to read between the lines to realise that Private Poole must have displayed remarkable tenacity and courage in his successful bid for freedom.

Private Poole fought with distinction in the battles of Greece and Crete, and, in the words of one of his battalion officers, " his devotion to duty won him respect from all quarters." He was recommended for a decoration, but unfortunately his name had to be withdrawn because he was later presumed to be a prisoner of war. Missing for Four Months

Four months ago Private Poole was reported missing, and no news was received of him until August 25, when his parents received a cablegram from Lieutenant V. C. Poole, stating that his brother was sate in Egypt. Official confirmation came five days later, and last Saturday Mr and Mrs Poole received a letter from their son, the first for many months. This was followed by another letter yesterday and also one from his brother.

Although it is not known now the escape was actually effected, some idea of the hazards encountered by Private Poole and his companions can be gleaned from these letters. Private Poole was captured by the Germans in Crete on June 1, and for weeks was interned in a prison camp. On June 21, in company with some other New Zealanders, he escaped from the camp and made for the mountains of Crete. For two months he wandered up and down the mountains, dodging German patrols, and finally getting away from Crete on August 20.

What occurred during these two months can only be a matter of conjecture at present, but many privations and hardships must have been endured by this band of soldiers. It is even possible that the New Zealanders. if they were armed, were responsible for some of the guerrilla warfare mentioned more than once in the cable news. Attired in Loin Cloth

In his first letter, which was written on board ship on August 22, on the way to Alexandria, private Poole says: "Actually, my being present on Crete cost the enemy rather dear, but that's another story. lam just six hours and a-half out from Alexandria. That means that in seven or eight hours I will have a cablegram despatched to you.

" Our arrival will cause something of a sensation in Alexandria if there are any witnesses, as I am clad only in a rather fine loin cloth, and the remainder of the boys are wearing nothing more than underpants. Clothing, however, awaits us at Alexandria and also a superb feed, and, what is more important, facilities for cabling."