CLEVER RUSE

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22468, 2 October 1944, Page 5

CLEVER RUSE

ESCAPE OF PRISONERS NEW ZEALAND TROOPS RETURN TO OWN LINES (N.Z.E.F. omclal War Correspondent) (Received October 2, 1 p.m.) RIMINI, October 1. New Zealanders who were wounded and taken prUoner by a Turkoman unit of the German forces spent all day in captivity, but by a clever ruae on the part of one of them, Sergeant, W. Windsor, of Wellington, they were later able to regain our lines and have now been evacuated to hospital. Shortly after dawn, when Sergeant Windsor’s platoon was occupying a forward position in the lines beyond Rimini, they heard sounds of Spandau and Tommy-gun fire coming from a house some 200 yards distant, and, thinking that another platoon was engaging the enemy there, Sergeant Windsor took forward a small party to give assistance. They came under heavy Spandau fire and Sergeant Windsor was wounded. Several others were captured and placed in a house with two members of the New Zealand Armoured Regiment who had been captured when their tank was knocked out earlier. Successful Deception The Turkomans mustered the prisoners for a march to the rear, but one wounded tank survivor was unfit to make the journey. Sergeant Windsor, who was not seriously wounded, pretended that he was too ill to move and he was so successful in his deception that he also was left behind. He waited all day for the opportunity to escape, which finally came towards evening, when the Turkomans, evidently considering the prisoners too much of an encumbrance, went off and left them, and the New Zealander; quietly returned to their own lines.