DESERT CAPTURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25426, 6 January 1944, Page 2

DESERT CAPTURE

BRIGADIER HARGEST’S STORY PASSAGE-AT-ARMS WITH ROMMEL (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 5. How he nearly shot up Rommel’s headquarters and later had a talk with Rommel was told to-day by Brigadier Hargest, who was taken prisoner at the Sidi Aziez airfield, near Bardla, in November, 1941, and recently arrived in London. Brigadier Hargest was commanding the Fifth Brigade, defending the airfield. They were swamped by the German advance, and became an “ island ” in the midst of a stream of advancing panzers. Nevertheless, the New Zealanders continued firing at the enemy tanks and trucks. Brigadier Hargest decided that the guns should keep a reserve supply of 40 shells apiece to meet the final German, attack, which they knew must come. Charged by German Tanks Not long afterwards a mass of tanks appeared coming straight at the New Zealanders, who returned the fire. It was decided, however, that this was not the main attack, and that a reserve of shells should be maintained. Actually the formation was Rommel’s headquarters, and Brigadier Hargest discovered this when he was taken prisoner. A British officer who was a prisoner in Rommel’s headquarters said: “ We were mighty glad when you stopped firing at us. It was too hot.” Brigadier Hargest’s “island” had no chance against the advancing Germans,

who shelled it to pieces and then overran it with tanks. One tank came at Brigadier Hargest with its gun pointing straight at him, but he said: “I was hanged if I was going to put up my hands. I shoved them in my pockets and just stood there. At the last moment the tank sheered off from me and went straight over a slip trench in which there were two of my men. They were unharmed.” Brigadier Hargest was eventually taken prisoner by General Kramer, who was the most generous in his praise of the. way in which the New Zealanders had fought.- He treated the New Zealand officer with punctilious politeness, and asked him to retain his revolver —but when General Kramer was not looking it was quickly whipped off him by a soldier. Refusal to Salute

Later Brigadier Hargest was taken to see Rommel. He entered the tent thinking, “I’m hanged if I am going to salute this fellow,” so he bowed stiffly from the waist towards Rommel. Rommel, who was cold and austere, did not like this, and the interpreter told Brigadier Hargest that Rommel expected him to salute. Brigadier Hargest replied: “I do not salute enemy officers. I only salute superior officers of my own army.” , Rommel then said: “ Your men fight well.” Brigadier Hargest said: “Yes. _ But your tanks were too much for us.” Rommel replied: “ But you have tanks.” „, “Yes,” said Brigadier Hargest, “but not here.” , „ Rommel retorted: "Then, perhaps my men are better, after all.” Brigadier Hargest requested that he might be allowed to keep his personal belongings in his car, to which Rommel willingly agreed. That ended the interview, but Brigadier Hargest never saw a stitch. He was taken from Bardia to Benghazi in an Italian submarine, the commander of which had married an Auckland girl. Brigadier Hargest had a high regard for him as an efficient commander. He had escaped around Africa from the British in the Red Sea. He treated Brigadier Hargest very well, saying: “Well, you can’t do much harm here, so we may as well be friends.” When the submarine surfaced at night the commander said: “Well, I suppose you would like to hear the 8.8. C. news. Brigadier Hargest warmly agreed, and the commander said, “So would I, and switched it in. Brigadier Hargest heard later that .this Italian did not return from his next trip. Varied Experiences

The next part of the brigadiers journey was made by motor torpedo boat from Benghazi to Italy. The motor torpedo boat was providing escort to a merchantman. Brigadier Hargest said that the conditions on board were directly the reverse of those on the submarine. The commander was an unpleasant individual, and every single member of the crew had the “wind up” badly. “When the merchantman was torpedoed, Brigadier Hargest said, “we saw the members of the Italian crew leaving in the ship’s boats, and not worrying about the hundreds of passengers, most of whom were saved, due, we heard, to the efforts of a German officer.” , , When port was reached there was an alarm, and every ship began firing at an aircraft. Brigadier Hargest, standing behind a Breda (anti-aircraft gun) saw shells apparently going into the aircraft, which suddenly swept overhead. They then saw that it was a German machine. When Brigadier Hargest commented on this the commander replied: “Well, it might not have been. We had to fire at it just the same.” Brigadier Hargest was at Sulmona camp for a time, and was later moved to Florence. The guards, who were jumpy, outnumbered the prisoners by about four to one. Brigadiers Hargest and Miles were two of the very few prisoners who escaped so strict was the watch kept. (The death of Brigadier Miles in Spain has since been announced.) Escape to Switzerland Brigadier Hargest arrived m Switzerland as a business man. He stayed there for some time, spending a few weeks haymaking and visiting farms. He was greatly impressed with the Swiss, whom lie much admires. Details of Brigadier ■ Hargest s escape cannot, of course, be made known until after the war, but it can be stated that at one period he was dressed as a working man with boots so big that three pairs of socks made no difference to their comfort. At another time he slugged parcels for the Germans. Once he worked while a German armed sentry stood sm.oki.ng a cigarette, occasionally staring at him. Eventually the sentry went away. At another time Brigadier Hargest had to stay in a room for 12 hours waiting. It was a most trying period, but when the sentries appeared he feigned sleepiness. There was also a time when the civil police tried to bully him. Brigadier Hargest stood it for six hours and then in French told them bluntly that if anything happened to him they would answer personally. They released him soon afterwards. Brigadier Hargest is ha-ing a busy tim a in London, but he has accompanied the High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, on several visits to servicemen, He went last week to No. 75 (New Zealand) Bomber Squadron. He hopes to see the squadron taking off and returning from an operation. It is also his ambition td have a flight in a Mosquito.