KING’S ESCAPE FROM CRETE

Southland Times, Issue 24446, 28 May 1941, Page 4

KING’S ESCAPE FROM CRETE

New Zealand Party

As Escort

(N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, May 26. In an epic journey over the mountains of Crete to the sea—more than three days climbing and watching—a party of New Zealanders had the high honour of escorting the King of Greece and his party to ultimate safety. The party, which consisted of men of one of the first battalions to leave New Zealand, was under the command of Lieutenant W. H. Ryan. The splendid manner in which the New Zealanders performed their duty in the face of such trying conditions drew from King George the highest praise. Guiding to safety the Royal entourage was Colonel J. S. Blunt, military attache to the British Legation in Greece, while working from the coastal end in an ultimately successful endeavour to contact the party was Major-General T. G. Heywood, head of the British Military Mission to the Greek Army. The Royal party, with the New Zealand escort, left the residence of the Greek Prime Minister, south-west, of Canea, on the morning of May 20. King George had just vacated his own residence in time. With him was his cousin, Prince Peter. Above them were countless bombers and Messerschmitts sweeping and machine-gun-ning, while a hundred parachutists were floating to earth. Luckily, the King’s party was not observed and they headed inland. Aircraft were racing over the King’s residence, which occupied a commanding position. It was very hot at first and the climb to 1500 feet proved trying, planes coming so close that Prince Peter once remarked on seeing the rear-gunner of one of them, quite plainly. The King and most civilians of the party were walking, which made it difficult climbing.

GERMANS IN HOUSE That evening a party was sent back under the command of a sergeant to reconnoitre the house and find if it was possible to obtain some of the King’s luggage. They discovered that the Germans had taken the place over. A short action followed, our men withdrawing and collecting the Greek Prime Minister, M. Tsouderous, who had an amazing escape. The following three days were a weary sequence of climbing and walking with little to eat and not much extra covering at nights. It was their magnificent bearing under these conditions, “humping” their automatic army Tommy guns and 200 rounds of ammunition a man over mountains and through gorges on their feet all the way which elicited the high commendation of the King. In an interview Colonel Blunt said: “These New Zealand troops, who not long before returned from Greece where they have been fighting hard all the time and have been as far north as Serbia, behaved splendidly. They had very little to eat, yet took to climbing easily. In fact, I heard one New Zealander’ state: ‘lf they start a Mountaineer Corps in New Zealand—well, I should get a commission.’ At least two of them had been wounded, but no one fell out.” Seven thousand feet above sea level at the top of Crete’s highest mountain the party slept for the night outside a I shepherd’s hut after having made a scanty meal of bread, goat’s milk and cheese. The King helped the menu by producing a tin of “iron” rations from his haversack. The following morning a start was made on the clamber down to the coast and safety—if everything worked all right. COAST REACHED In the latter part of the afternoon they met two mules and a small reinforcing escort which was sent to meet them by Major-General Heywood, with whom telephone communication had been indirectly established after great difficulty. Eventually they reached the coast where Major-General Heywood was waiting. He said he suddenly saw a very tired escort of New Zealanders, with their feet dragging and the King riding with them on a mule. Smiling and cheerful, the party had made a journey right across the island over some of the most difficult country imaginable. That night they lay on the beach watching and hoping—hoping that the first to see them would be friends and not enemies. Major-General Heywood had reached the rendezvous in a caique and had arranged fox- the rescuing ship to remain in the meantime 10 miles down the coast so as not to arouse suspicion. Shortly after midnight a light showed out at sea. Major-General Heywood replied with a torch. There was no reply for some time, then the light flared again, this time nearer. In a quandary, not knowing whether it would be friend or foe, Major-General Heywood at last decided to send the caique out to explore. About 2 o’clock he heard it returning. In case of possible trouble he placed the New Zealanders in two echelons ready to meet whatever might eventuate. However, all was well and the whole party was taken off to the waiting ship in four relays. They eventually cleared the island at 4 a.m.