N.Z.A.

P.O.W.-8309

STALAG VIIIB

GERMANY

New Zealand - Left

Called at Sydney- Perth- Fremantle Colombo (Ceylon)

-arrived at Port Suez

Train to Naadi (Cairo)

Bytransport toCairo- train to Gerawla

Train to Alexandria- Cairo- Naadi- Maaten Babuish

Used as A.S.C. to take troops up to Bardia from Burg el Arab-

Passed through El Daba-Nersa, Matrib-Sidi Barrani- Sollum- Fort Capunzo to Bardia

Truck coming from Naaten Baguish back to Helvan (Cairo)-

Transported across to Greece arriving at Piraeus – by truck through Greece to Lukos near Salomka – passing over Olympus pass – took up gun positions in OlympusPass

Withdrew to support Aussies at Kalabaka, left here for Larisoa – fought battle here – Greeks capitulated – April 24th withdrew at night . April 25th passed through Athens to evacuation beach – left Greece on April 27th – bivouacked around Carnie and Galatos digging fortifications, May 20th; German blitz on Crete

June 1st taken prisoner after forces on island had capitulated

EGYPT – DECEMBER 1940

MAATEN BAGUISH With the big push in progress we had plenty to talk about – Iti planes visited the surrounding aerodromes quite frequently – one night a fighter had the audacity to machine gun the main aerodrome just at tea time – we all dived for cover when machine guns opened up, but when we saw that operations were only against the ‘drome we ran to some nearby hills to watch the fun – tracer bullets were used and the plane scored a hit on “ Lummbanny Annie” – to a troop biplane, and it went up in flames – if anyone deserved a medal that Iti pilot did, he got away quite safely. Another night the Iti’s dropped some bombs on one end of the drome, doing no damage, although the amchine gunners, cookhouse and one or two trucks nearby showed evidence of flying shrapnel. Some of our trucks were detached as ASC and had to take rations, petrol and ammo up to the front. Our troops were driving the It is back from Sidi Barrani and there were plenty of prisoners being taken – these had to be brought back in the trucks.

Xmas eve was a great night for us – the boys had a good supply of beer – we had plenty of parcels from home and the Itiswere retreating so everybody was in the best of spirits. We held a concert in the sergeant’s tent – everybody giving some item or other from sentimental songs- musical items – and have you heard this one – the highlight of the evening was “maestro” Pascoes’ violin playing. Xmas morning we woke up with a sand bag flying through the air