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almost a certainty if they kept up the same rapid fire. After a time
which seemed like days a lot of shouting and yelling heralded the arrival
at the end of our trench of a load of jerries. At first I thought they
were going to shoot the lot of us. They sent a shower of bullets over
our heads, but so close that we felt the wind of them. We didn't go
much on that, and being hopelessly out-numbered and having only a few
usable weapons we came out of the trench with our hands up hoping they'd
not shoot again, or anything else unpleasant. The question is - how did
Lieut. Spencer manage to get away? He certainly looked after himself all
right after getting us into the trench and not letting anyone leave it.
We were apparently the first prisoners taken - judging by the fuss they made
of us. They searched us there and then taking pretty well everything
we had. The first thing they took from me was my green beret, this was
followed by a watch, cigarette case, cigarettes, money and various other
odds and ends. So after 3 years' training, I'm in action 2 days [underlined] without
hardly firing a single shot! [/underlined] It makes you think. Our captors march us
away inland to what appears to be their H.Q. We have been told often that
the best time to escape is as soon as possible after capture. At this
time we are all in a bit of a daze, hardly able to believe our good fortune
at getting out of the trench alive, so much so that during the first night
I doubt if any of us thought of escape. In any case there was a full
moon which would not have helped any. They soon march us off again and
after marching for about 3 hours came to another H.Q. - a large empty
chateau. Here we are searched again and, after a bit, put into 2 closed-in
vans. (Here I may as well make a list of the blokes in our party.)

R.S.M. E. Dollery Mne. A.P. Frew Mne. J. Riley
C/Sgt. F.J. Batt " A. Bryant " Peele
Sgt. P. Clarke " K. Scrupps L. naval rating
Cpl. J. Burt " G.E. Weed l R.A. sergeant
Mne. G.J. Andrews " W.Forbes and myself.
" W. Anderson " A.E. Carter
" G. Hargrave " F.W. Sharpe
" E. Payzer