TERRIBLE ORDEAL

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXX, Issue 9638, 23 June 1941, Page 4

TERRIBLE ORDEAL

NEW ZEALANDERS' ESCAPE FROM GREECE GREAT PHYSICAL TRIAL THAMES DOCTOR'S NARRATIVE “It was pretty tough going. I have never, before ami never will again make such a tremendous physical effort as I did in trying to escape.” These are the words of Dr. O. S. Ilelherington, of Thames, in a letter from Crete describing his trying experiences while escaping to the coast of Greece (states the “Thames Star”). Just before the retreat the company of which Dr. I-letherington was a member found themselves flanked, with the Huns machine-gun-ning them as they broke into open formation. After hiding in an oatheld, with bullets spitting in all directions, they managed to climb up a ravine for about 1000 feet. A motor transport endeavoured to ' get to them, but nine dive-bombers attacked tiic transport, so a party of 19 endeavoured to make its way along tHe foot of the mountains for about six miles aiid then on to the sea.. An Australian major advised them to make for a large town behind the , lines.

They reached the outskirts of the town after dark, when suddenly a flare went up. and there, just in front of them, was a German tank. It immediately dashed off into a lield, and this gave the company time to get away again. They did a further 15 miles that night, and reached the coast the following mid-day, thoroughly exhausted. They simply lay down where they were and slept. After begging some food from villages that night, a small motorboat found them and took them down the coast about 10 miles.

CLIMBED 3000 PT FOR FOOD They then climbed up to a village 3000 feet for more food. Here another party of Australians and New Zealanders joined them. During the day, Hun planes continued to fly over and machine-gun them. For two days and nights they tramped over the mountains to another beach, where a motor-boat took them a further 30 miles down the coast to a village, and next day the motor-boat took them on to another village. Tliis sort of thing kept up for a week, flic Greek people in all the villages being very good, and they were able to get, on an average, one meal a day.

Later they arrived at a large island, connected with the mainland by a bridge. The Germans also landed on another part of the island, so the company had to make a bolt for ir again, and got to the mainland just before the bridge was blown up, They caught a train, which took them lo the main town. After waiting for two days, the Germans appeared, so the men took to some rowing-boats. They had not got far when a German tank started shelling them from the shore. CAUGHT AND COOKED LAMB After hours of rowing, they later reached an island. By catching a lamb and cooking it, they had their first meal for 24 hours. Starting off in the boats again and rowing all night, they finally reached the mainland very tired. After a rest, they ;:cv off over the tmountains for a furtliem 30 miles, where they reached u vilage and got some food. After getting to another beach, they took alt available boats and rowed further along the coast, calling in at litth.villages for food. Finally a motorboat hove in sight, and, by packing in like sardines, the party eventually reached Crete.

The doctor stated that in his parly of 42 lie had a number of Australians who had fought at Bardia, and they

were till excellent fellows. “The boy Hays, from Tararu, was with mo, and was absolutely splendid," says Dr. Hetlierington. “After we were forced to split up the party, I did not hear of him again. Sergeant-Major Sweeney, of Paeroa, was also with my party and came out safely with me.” (The boy Hayes referred to is Lance-Corporal Lindsay Parker Hays, who was afterwards reported missing, but who' lias since been reported not missing. He is a brother of Mrs Cliff Burns, of Waihi.)