LIFE IN A PRISON CAMP

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 68, Issue 5940, 8 May 1944, Page 2

LIFE IN A PRISON CAMP

INTERESTING VISITOR TO TE AWAMUTU NEWS OF CAPTAIN R. S. SINCLAIR An interesting visitor to Te Awamutu during the week-bnd was Captain G. A. Brown,, who has been recently repatriated from Germany. Accompanied by Trooper Roy Hammond, Captain Brown was on a visit to relatives and friends of Captain R. S. Sinclair, of Te Awamutu, who is a prisoner of war at Oflag IX AH camp in Germany. Captain Brown and Captain Sinclair were roommates at this camp, which is situated about 70 miles from the much-blitzed city of Kassel. The raids were so powerful that they were visible from the camp Varied Menu In conversation with a Courier representative, Captain Brown mentioned that there were some 200 officers at the camp, including two brig-adier-generals. He said that Oflag IX AH was regarded as one of the best camps in Germany. While there was nothing unusual in the food provided by the German authorities, a considerable variety was imparted to the menu, thanks to the excellent work of the Red Cross. As an illustration, Captain Brown said that when the capitulation of Italy took place the kitchen staff excelled themselves, and put on a meal consisting of salmon, lettuce, potatoes, trifle, and coffee. At the end of the meal the officers joined heartily in singing “Mussolini’s Song,” a ditty of a somewhat disparaging nature to the Duce, and picked up by the New Zealanders in Greece.

“ I would like to pay a tribute to the fine work of the Red Cross,’’ said Captain Brown, “ by relating this incident. I was one of 400 New Zealanders who were being repatriated, and when we were in the Mediterranean on the journey from Barcelona to Alexandria it was decided that we should show our appreciation to the Red Cross in some tangible way. The sum of £2OOO was collected, and this was handed later to the New Zealand representative of the National Patriotic Fund in Cairo.” Highland Dancing

The majority of prisoners of war in the camp were members of the British Expeditionary Force, and included quite a number of officers of the famous 51 Highland Division who met the German onslaught at Dunkirk. Nothing could damp the spirits of these men. They organised classes in Highland dancing in the large dining-hall, and on several afternoons each week the pipes skirled to the intricate steps of the Highland fling, sword dance, and sean triubhais. Major Bedding, of Wellington, was an expert piper, and several Scottish pipers were also in evidence. The German guards never missed a performance, pnd people from the village stared through the windows at these mad Scotsmen. One piper liked to parade the camp with his pipes going full blast, but the German authorities prohibited this on the grounds that the people of the village were terrified by the sound ! Sports and Pastimes

Sfport played a prominent part in the life of the camp, Captain Brown added. “ There was an excellent putting green made by the officers, and when our party arrived there was a competition in progress. Very little notice was taken of us, as the interest was so keen in the competition. I recognised Captain R. S. Sinclair, with whom I had sat on a courtmarital in Egypt. Assisted by a brawny Highlander with a fierce moustache, he was doing a thriving business as the official ‘ bookie,’ and he had a placard containing a slogan familiar to many Londoners ‘ Duggie ’ always pays. Quoits were also very popular, and badminton, hockey, and hand-ball were well patronised, a Scottish padre being very expert in the last-mentioned pastime. Occasionally the officers were permitted to visit a sports ground about a mile away, where there was a good swimming pool.” Unpleasant Interlude Captain Brown ' mentioned that there was an unpleasant interlude at the camp in September, 1942. A report had reached the German high command alleging ill-treatment of German prisoners of war on a journey from North Africa to Capetown in charge of a British officer. The story was to the effect that the officer, suspecting an attempt on the part of the Germans to seize the ship, deprived them of. all razors, knives, and other articles which might proved troublesome. Had the major stopped there, all would have been well; but it was alleged that he subjected the prisoners to a humiliation too great to be tolerated by a dignified and cultured race like the Nazis —he deprived them of their nether garments ! No doubt the British officer reasoned that it was impossible to organise a successful mutiny on the high seas in one’s shirt-tail ! It was decided in Berlin that reprisals must take place, and Oflag IX AH was selected to receive a taste of the Fuehrer’s displeasure. For over two months the officers were deprived of all toilet and eating gear, and beards were the order of the day. In the early stages the welcome “ hotshower day ” —held once a week, when everyone, including the brigadiergenerals, paraded in dressing-gown and bath-towel—was suspended, but this was reinstated shortly afterward, each officer being given a towel and a small piece of soap as he entered the shower, but these were taken back the moment he came out. In spite of minor interludes of this nature life in camp went on very much as usual, with typical British humour, and no one got his tail down. A Loyal Gesture

The church services • on Sundays were always well patronised, said Captain Brown, and these were taken on alternate Sundays by an Anglican and a Presbyterian padre. The singing of the National Anthem was not permitted, and a German interpreter was always present to see that nothing of a derogatory nature was said

concerning the Fuehrer. This interpreter, however, usually made a discreet departure at the close of the sermon, and the padre would then say, “ Gentlemen —the King.” The officers would then stand and respond, “ God bless him.” ’ “ Life was not so dull as most people in New Zealand would imagine,” said Captain Brown. “ Many of the officers were studying hard, and 1 Captain Sinclair was in charge of the book-keeping class. He had also control of the records relating to the distribution of Red Cross and private parcels, and he spent many hours compiling a new system of readyreckoner specially adapted to the payouts of dairy companies. He was the life and soul of the camp, and had completely recovered.from the wounds he received at Galatos, where he was captured in May, 1941. It has been a great pleasure for me and for Trooper Roy Hammond, who knew Captain Sinclair in Egypt and who was in the same regiment now known as the. 18th Armoured Regiment—to meet so many of Captain Sinclair’s relatives and friends in Te Awamutu, so that we could convey personally his good wishes to them, and his confident hope that he would be with them again in due time.”