N.Z. PRISONERS AT BARDIA

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 105, 16 January 1942, Page 4

N.Z. PRISONERS AT BARDIA

Disgusting Ordeal

FILTHY QUARTERS AND POOR FOOD CAIRO, January 11 > Conditions described as absolutely disgusting were experienced by prisoners held at Bardia for six long weeks before British troops stormed and took the coastal stronghold. The stories differ slightly in detail, but all confirm that about 1100 men were crammed in an area of about an acre without allowance for adequate exercise of limbs and were very scantily fed. A gunner.of a field regiment said he entered Bardia after dark, having marched from 20 to 25 miles since 11 a.m. without food or water. As they passed through- the wire' gates groups of Italians came running up to stare. Eventually they tumbled into a compound in the centre of the port. It was a concreted area walled on all sides 50 yards square without a roof. The place was filthy and they had no food that night. Next morning the Germans called for volunteers .to clean another compound to which the prisoners.were to be transferred. This took 20 men eight hours. While they were away the first issue of food arrived shortly after noon consisting ,of a small tin of bully beef, reputedly horseflesh, and one roll of German brown bread. Those working in the other compound missed and spent another night without food. Like Department Store. The new compound was no better than the first, except that it was larger. The floor was of broken concrete and the walls were seven feet high without a roof. To move ,was like walking in a big department store on Christmas Eve; in fact, worse, since, if one got too far from one’s own square, one had to climb over others to return. ,In the first few days 30 men were taken to scramble down cliffs.to bathe, but this was so fatiguing, specially the return climb, that nobody wished to repeat the experience. . After the first day the men, were divided into groups and supplied their own cooks and fatigues to gather their own wood. It was during one wood-gathering expedition that the only casualty occurred, a bomb, falling among the party and killing one. The amount to

eat depended on how much the Italians took from the trucks. About three weeks ago they ran out of bread and substituted dry, hard biscuits, -.which latterly were full of weevils. The prisoners received two rubbishy cigarettes daily. They were so precious that the New Zealanders used to break off pieces and roll them in ordinary paper.

~ '■‘■V — I Rain and Mud. For 11 days and nights it rained intermittently, adding mud to the discomfort.- Sometimes they were able to scrounge pieces of tin for covering, the guards refusing to help. On Christmas Day slightly extra rations were handed out, and a Holy, Communion service was held by a New Zealand padre who was allowed to visit the men from time to time. This padre started discussions among the men to take their minds' off their predicament. On New Year’s Day came a special -issue of 10 cigarettes. The Italians were anxious to get as many prisoners away as possible. Thus, when a man reported sick he was put on the list for the next hospital ship. When the ship arrived, there were about 300 prospective passengers. A German naval officer questioned the men regarding their health and declined to take them aboard. Italian medical officers did not care much, but a very mercenary orderly came looking for the sick bringing a bag packed with cigarettes instead of medical gear. These be attempted to barter for. watches. One man sold a watch valued at £2O for 200 cigarettes and five rolls of bread. . Another got four biscuits for a 40/- fountain pen. Germans “Two-Faced.’' The view that the Germans made the Italians scapegoats in the matter of attitude toward the prisoners was expressed by New Zealand soldiers. One New Zealander who was at Sidi Barrani last year, also in Greece and Crete, said: "The German is very twofaced. He tried to make himself a good fellow with the prisoners, but 'actually the Germans made the Italians treat the prisoners badly, and came up themselves smiling, and offering an occasional cigarette. The result was everyone thought the Germans good chaps and the Italians lousy. “I know better. After the fall of Bardia we found the Germans well stocked and comfortable and the Italians. on the other hand, had insufficient clothing and not much to eat. The Italians got a rough deal from their German allies.” All the time there was hope of relief, though the Germans and Italians scoffed at the idea of the Bardia defences breaking. For weeks before January 2 there had been rumours of an impending attack? One was particularly strong, when two South Africans, freshly captured, told hopeful prisoners it was coming the next day