DARING ESCAPES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25427, 7 January 1944, Page 2

DARING ESCAPES

PRISONERS IN ITALY HAZARDOUS JOURNEYS TO SAFETY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 6. The escape of three New Zealand officers from a prisoner-of-war camp in Italy meant the bridging of a gap of something like 450 miles before they reached the invading forces of the Allies. It was a long, hazardous journey, entailing considerable risk and hardship, but after six weeks’ adventure the trio reached their objective—the Eighth Army. Recently two of these officers, both of Wellington, were reunited with their relatives. The other went to England. The two Wellington officers are Lieu-tenant-colonel C. D. A. George, of Karori and Captain D. Gerard, of Northland, and -with them in their escape in Italy was Flight Lieutenant R. D. Campbell, of Opunake. Obtaining civilian clothing, the men masqueraded as Italians, and in this guise they profited'greatly by the fact that Captain Gerard, who had been for a long time in enemy hands, spoke Italian very well. The av9iding of towns and roads also contributed to the success of their venture, as did the aid they received from Italians. German Guard Outwitted The escape was made from Modena camp, where there was a large number of New Zealanders, as well as many South Africans. A break had to be made through a German guard, the Germans having entered the camp when the armistice with Italy was arinounced. A German guardsman, armed with a tommygun, was changing a clip when the escape began. Throwing bags of food over the barbed wire, the New Zealanders dived after them and ran for over two miles. They later changed into Italian peasant clothes. They boarded a train packed with Italians, which helped them on part of their journey. Captain Gerard found a place on the roof, and Lieu-tenant-colonel George on a gangway, with Flight Lieutenant Campbell on a buffer. A further “lift” took them to a point somewhere about the middle of Italy, and then followed their crosscountry journey. Odd jobs, such as picking grapes and tramping grapes in wine presses, were done on the way. Some stages of their journey were long, and always there was the task of getting through the German lines undetected. It took them eight hours to cover the last two miles through the German lines. Fighting was going on, and it was possible that the Germans had their attention so fully occupied that they did not notice the escaped men.

The journey meant hard wear and tear, and on the way Lieutenant-colonel George and Flight Lieutenant Campbell needed new boots. These were obtained from ~ Germans, an Italian being persuaded to acquire them. Others who helped them included a woman, whose generous supply of food was supplemented by 1000 lira and also cigars, while equally welcome was the 8.8. C. news. The Biferno River had to be crossed on the way to safety, and when they waded across the men duly celebrated their success by eating a ration of chocolate which had been carefully nursed by Lieutenant-colonel George. Their troubles, however, were not quite over. They had to' meet a challenge when the Eighth Army was reached. “ Don’t shoot, we are British,” they shouted, and after the sentry had satisfied himself that his observation that they looked like prisoners of war was correct, they readily accepted a handful of cigarettes proffered, by the challenger. Help from Italians

Long weeks in Italian mountains and an eight-day walk, during which he covered nearly 300 miles through southern Italy to the British lines, were described by Gunner Maurice O’Connor, who also arrived in New Zealand recently. One of the main factors in his escape was the help given by the Italian people. “We would never have got through the German lines if it had not been for their help,” he said. Private Hughe Cameron, of Gisborne, was one of a party of four who also qscaped. When he was near the German lines he could hear enemy motor cycle patrols and constant transport movements throughout the night One night a sentry challenged his party. “We heard the click of his rifle, but we went to earth,” he said. “We lay still for 20 minutes and then made our way out. We made contact with a civilian, a former sergeant in the Italian Army, who said his son would escort us through the German lines. We travelled all that night and met Canadian troops at 7 o’clock next morning. They called the war off for a while and welcomed us.” Private Cameron also paid a tribute to the Italian people and to the Red Cross.