EXCITING ESCAPE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25383, 15 November 1943, Page 2

EXCITING ESCAPE

AT LARGE IN ITALY YOUNG WELLINGTON PILOT (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) LONDON, Nov. 12. " Naples has fallen. It is being evacuated by the Germans, and the British are streaming into the city in bearded, and grubby man crept stealthily and uncertainly towards the main road. He saw a jeep approaching. His eyes - glowed with excitement. Then he rushed forward waving his arms and shouting. The driver of the jeep was a royal naval commando officer. He grinned at the waving figure, thinking he was merely another welcoming Italian. Then ’ the tramp-like figure shouted: “ Wait a minute. I am Sub-lieutenant Donald Cameron, of the Fleet Air Arm.” The commando officer beamed with delight, shook hands, and said: “Hop in. old boy.” Then the jeep sped on towards Naples. That is how 21-year-old Donald Cameron, of Wellington, ended a month’s wandering in Italy after escaping from the Germans. He has now returned to England. _ Lieutenant Cameron had arrived off Salerno with Seafires covering the assault on September 9. It was about 10.30 a.m. He was flying on his second patrol, and could see the Isle of Capri 20 miles westwards in glorious sunshine. There were no Messerschmitts about, and the New Zealander was thoroughly happy flying his Seafire over the blue Mediterranean. But suddenly his engine spluttered and it was soon obvious that he would have to make a forced landing. Landing in Enemy Lines Lieutenant Cameron was then at 9000 feet. He dived towards the Italian shore with the' intention of landing on the beach The German gunners thought he was about to attack and opened up a barrage. Then they saw the Seafires flaps come down and watched the aircraft “ belly-land,” sending up a cloud of sand. They hurried over and found the New Zealander covered in a heap of sand and unconscious. They dug him out, and when he came to, took him behind their lines. Shells from British warships and troops at the other end of the beach were making life unhoalthy, and Lieutenant Cameron was ordered to dig a slit trench. He did it rather glumly, still feeling weak from being knocked out, and as he dug the trench wondered idlv if it would turn out to be his grave. Then he lay down in it. He lay ther* all day, listening to British shell* “ crumping ” all around the German posiDarkness came, but the shelling kept on. About midnight, exhausted from lack of food and weakness, he fell fitfully asleep. A German wakened him at 4 a.m.. He stumbled from the trench and was pushed into an armoured car. They were evacuating the beaches, and now Lieutenant Cameron found himself being chased by the British. He sat humped in the bottom of the car, and had to listen to the British guns firing towards it. The Germans were replying from the car. For eight hours the car rumbled on until it arrived at German headquarters. Four hours later—24 hours after his capture— Lieutenant Cameron had his first meal. Then just before dark he was ordered to get into the side-car of a motor cycle, and was driven to a temporary prison camp at Avellino. Lieutenant Cameron introduced himself to several British and Americans. They were told by a German n.c.o. that hp had not sufficient guards, and warned them that if any man escaped two others would be shot. As it turned out, he meant what he said. Italian Prisoners Shot The next day, when about 60 Italian soldiers, including an officer, arrived, the n.c.o. told them that as they had been fighting against Germany they would all be shot. Thsy were. The next day the prisoners were herded into trucks, each under the charge of an English or American officer. They set off for Capua, where there was a prisoners’ camp, but found that the R.A.F. had bombed it to pieces. - so the trucks, were ordered to return to Avellino. During the jolting journey Lieutenant Cameron discussed escape with an American intelligence officer, whose parents were Italian and who could speak the language. They waited for a wide bend’ in the road, then jumped. They tore into the woods, ran for 20 minutes, then dropped exhausted. They were not followed so began walking and found a farmhouse. The Italian welcomed them warmly and gave them civilian clothes and 100 lira each. , They, told them where they could pick up a train which was taking discharged Italian soldiers home. The New Zealander and the American found the train and boarded it..., - ~ Then began a long and seemingly endless journey. Lieutenant Cameron pretended to be asleep whenever an official came near. The American did the talking. Eventually the train made a long halt, and they'decided it would be safer 'to get off. They found a haystack in a vine field and went to sleep. They were awakened at midnight by gunfire. They lay under the hay apprehensively, thinking the Germans might be searching for them, but the Germans were actually firing at Italians who attempted to get food from the station stores. At daylight they had a breakfast off grapes, returned to the station, and boarded another train. This took them to Cassino, where there were so many Germans that they decided to part for a time. Through the German Line* Then they walked for two days and nights through the German lines to Capua. They had several narrow escapes from British bombs, but they kept on the way. They paid two lira each to cross the Volturno River, and took a train to a countryside station. They paid four lira for the fare. They found the Germans were demanding discharge papers from the Italians, so they decided to separate once more. Lieutenant Cameron did not see his companion again. Cameron made for open country, taking Mount Vesuvius as his objective. He had now several days’ beard, and looked a thoroughly suspicious character, but the Italians were kind to him and helped him all they could. He. eventually arrived at the foot of Vesuvius, and found Italians gossiping around a well. Lieutenant Cameron could not decide what to do, but took a chance. He went up to tfiem and declared that he was English. They seemed delighted, and warned him that the Germans were

everywhere, so they hid him in a house for 10 days, then introduced him to a party of Russians whom the Germans had brought to Italy to build roads. The Italians told them that the British were advancing towards Naples, so the New Zealander and five of the Russians decided to cross Vesuvius. It was a terrifying journey. They climbed over crater* in pitch darkness and pouring rain, but next morning, drenched to the skin, they arrived at Torre del Greco. Lieutenant Cameron was so ill through fever that-he lay in a vineyard all day. Then an Italian family tended him for three days. They could hear the British shelling getting nearer. Then a boy arrived with a message from a friendly Italian. The note said: “Mister English and American, stay in Torre del Greco. If you want something come to country house together with your friends, where, after having eaten, you gone to meet troops. Sincerely, Antonio.” In a short time they met Antonio. He was as good as his word, and gave them food. Eventually they found the jeep and had their first real bath and real meal in Castle Lamare.