ESCAPE FROM CRETE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 228, 27 September 1941, Page 4

ESCAPE FROM CRETE

NEW ZEALANDER WHO WAS » A PRISONER RELATED TO FORMER OKOIA SETTLERS » ‘ You can believe me when I say that for initiative, real bravery and ■guts,’ I have never heard anything like it—it ranks with anything we read of our great nerves.” This was an extract from a letter from Captain C. S. Brook to Mrs. L. J. Rule, of Te Kuiti, concerning her son Neville's escape from the island of Crete, three months after he had been taken prisoner. Mrs. Rule is a grand-daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Archie Neilson, who were the original owners of “Mt. Zion,” Okoia, having broken in the rough back country. Mrs. Rule has many relatives and friends in the Wanganui district. Her son Neville left New Zealand V with the Second N.Z.E.F. troops which went to England, having been diverted en route to the Middle East because of Italy's entry to the war. Ho had his 22nd birthday in England. During nine weeks of the campaign in Greece his mother did not hear from him. Then she received a snapshot from Crete, saying that he was lit and well. That was the last Mrs. Rule hoard about her son until it was reported that he had made his escape from captivity and she received Captain Brook's letter.

Captain Brook said that he had called on Neville Rule and found him looking well. While there Captain Brook was told a story which had ail tiie likeness to a fairy tale. Mrs. Rule received a letter from her son in the same mail, and in this he says that he is not at liberty to toll how he escaped. All he says is: 'Believe me, it was a thrill." At the time of writing he was going on a few days’ leave. ”1 suppose you were very worried, and believe me, I was not too happ;> about it,” he adds. However, It was an experience, although not a very nice one, and now 1 am back again safe in Egypt.