PRISONER AGAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22792, 17 January 1944, Page 4

PRISONER AGAIN

Exploits Of Officer RECAPTURED BY GERMANS A New Zealander, who has figured in a thrilling series of escapes during the war. Captain A. A. Yeoman, is again in the hands of the Germans. His mother, Mrs M. Yeoman, of Taneatua, has just received official advice that he is a prisoner of war in Germany at Stalag IV B. Captain Yeoman, who left New Zealand with the Second Echelon, was mentioned in dispatches for gallantry in action in Greece and Crete. It was in Greece that he made his first escape from the Germans. After being cut off in the hills, he and a number of other men took to the sea in various types of Greek boats and made their escape down through the Aegean. After being wounded in Libya, Captain Yeoman was taken prisoner there two years ago. He was interned in Campo 38 in Italy, but in September, 1942, he and two other officers escaped. They were at large for 29 days, and during that time they travelled 250 miles in civilian clothes, passing themselves off as Germans. A series of hairbreadth escapes ended with their recapture on the coast at Spezia. They were taken to Campo 5, an old castle north of Genoa, which was provided specially for soldiers who had escaped from other camps. Escape from it was regarded as impossible. After the downfall of Mussolini Captain Yeoman and other prisoners at the camp were handed over to the Germans in July of last year. In September he was taken by cattle truck to Austria, and then to a prison camp at Spittai. Some days later, with two other'officers, he made another bid for liberty. They escaped from the camp and climbed the Alps, making their way through a pass back to Italy. After a week his companions were recaptured, but Captain Yeoman successfully dodged the German patrol. He carried on down through Italy in an endeavour to reach the Eighth Army, but he was captured again and taken to Germany.