NO DAYLIGHT FOR 16 DAYS

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 6

NO DAYLIGHT FOR 16 DAYS

DUNEDIN PRISONER ON ALTMARCK PRIVATIONS ON NAZI “HELL SHIP’’ DRINKING WATER IN OLD FRUIT TINS “I hadn’t seen daylight for 16 days until the time we were rescued, as it was too cold to go on deck as I did not have sufficient clothing. I am glad to be back on British soil again and I am extremely glad to be a member of the British race,” remarked William Wheeler, of Dunedin, in a broadcast from London last night. Wheeler, formerly a gunner on the Doric Star, was one of the prisoners rescued from the Altmarck, the Nazi “hell ship.” “Being a prisoner on the Altmarck is an experience I will never forget,” he said. “We used to rise about 6.30 a.m. each day and after breakfast we talked until about 8.30 a.m. We were given a pint of water to each man each day and it was given to us in an old fruit tin. We were each given a quart of water a day for washing and two cakes of soap to last us the whole time. We played various games, ludo, draughts and chess, so we were not so badly off as far as games went.

“We would sit about and talk of what might have happened and what we thought would happen; Some were quite optimistic, but others did not view the future so brightly and had visions of being landed in German concentration camps. To pass away the time we made different things out of wood, and it was surprising what could be made. “For dinner at noon,” he continued, “we had a bowl of soup in our fruit tin, while twice a week we had rice and macaroni with stew. After dinner we usually returned to bed and slept. At 4.30 p.m. we usually sent a - man up to the deck for out tea, which consisted of two slices and a-half of bread and tea. The procedure after tea was to sit and wait until the prison officer came for the roll call. Sometimes German news was given and then the prisoners locked down for the night. No one ever saw the sunset, but everyone was of good cheer, especially when the German officers were about. Considering the conditions our men kept amazingly cheerful. NEW YEAR’S EVE “At night we would wrap ourselves up in a blanket and when in the tropics this was quite comfortable, but in the Antarctic it was very cold. On New Year’s Eve we crossed hands at 12 o’clock. We sung all the old songs we could think of that night, while lots of us who had bought presents to take home traded them for cigarettes. We often asked if there was any chance of hearing the broadcast news, just for something to talk about. We would be told that it was only German news and it would not do for us to hear. Some of the news the prison officer told us was so ridiculous that we couldn’t help smiling, while the officer would blush himself.” Wheeler said that at night two of the prisoners would be selected to go on watch. The atmosphere was co thick that the prisoners slept very heavily and it was difficult to wake up at times. In the event of any trouble those on watch had to awaken the others. “One night a steward told us that we must be in a Norwegian fiord and we were able to get a glimpse of land,” he added. “It was marvellous to see the sight of land again for the first time for many weeks and we wanted to get ashore. A day or two later we noticed a boat and tried to attract its attention with a Union Jack we had made from the red and white wrappings on a tin of herrings and tomato rauce. Our efforts were to no avail, however. As a result of this attempt we were confined to our sleeping quarters and did not see daylight again for days.” N.Z, MEN ON ALTMARCK REACH ENGLAND (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 20. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) has received advice from the High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) that the New Zealanders from the Altmarck have reached England “all fit and well.”