MANY ADVENTURE-

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 111, 15 May 1942, Page 6

MANY ADVENTURE-

PRISON SHIP BLOWN UP (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) One of the soldiers repatriated from i Italy is Pte. Edward Robert Dunn, of! Hikurangi, who was captured at I Eladem hy the Germans on November 23, torpeooed in the Mediterranean, shipwrecked in Greece, and imprisoned in Italy. A stretcher-bearer in the corridor lighting, he was captured byGermans using British trucks. Among two thousand prisoners, he was shipped from Benghazi in a freighter with battened-down holds. Twentytwo hours out there was a terrific explosion; the hatches were blown out and the sides stove in. The prisoners came up immediately. New Zealanders and South Africans pulling men up from thp holds, which were swirling with water and timber. The ship was in a half-sinking condition, with the propeller above water, and drifting towards the land. "The boys took over the ship, cooked eggs, and ate the crew's meal to make up for their previous rations, and sang hymns,” he said. "As they neared the shore they sang popular tunes.” The ship drifted on to the rocks and the prisoners were gradually taken off. The populace threw nuts and raisins, and then the prisoners realised that they were in Greece. “We would have made a break on the beach if we had known before," Pte. Dunn said. They were imprisoned in several camps in Southern Greece, with one guard to every two prisoners, and spent a week in an open paddock nick-1 named Dysentery Acre. As a Christmas treat, they had 12 currants and a cup of soup. Then they sailed from Patras for Bari and encamped near Brindisi. The Italian people were friendly and waved and threw bread. The guards were disillusioned, and disbelieved Fascist propaganda, and were hopeful of a British victory. Pte. Dunn volunteered for hospital work, and then at half an hours notice left for Smyrna. “I still can't believe I am back,” he said, as he changed into a new uniform for the first time for six , months.