- Contributed by听
- wneled (William Ledbury)
- Article ID:听
- A3542654
- Contributed on:听
- 18 January 2005
On or about 23rd September,1943 I was walking around the perimeter of the camp, when an Italian sentry outside made an astonishing statement to me, which was 'Cinque hora soldat finito' I thought he meant that he was simply going off duty in the normal way at 5pm. However, a short while later all hell broke loose. A large lorry turned up amidst a cloud of dust, which was filled with Italian troops loading at break-neck speed and just as quickly disappearing into the distance. One of their officers came darting out and brandishing a revolver, fired at their truck
until they were safely out of range.Unknown to us at the time, Italy had capitulated!
It did not take long for us to get galvanised into action. We formed one long human chain and rushed the fencing until it was flat on the ground. We were free agents at least for the time being! Some of us visited the French Foreign Legionaires and it was an education to see them squatting around a large bowl with items from Red Cross parcels - fish, condensed milk, etc. all mixed together and eaten by dipping their hands into the bowl!
We started wending our way up to the nearest village in search for food of some sort. very soon a military car drew up in a cloud of dust and a German officer pointed a revolver at us, whereupon, I remember disappearing quicker than I have ever done, around the corner. Still our people were coming towards that village and despite the fact that I had implored them to turn back,they carried on, rendering themselves out of the protection of the Red Cross, because the Germans would possibly close the camp. I never knew whether they returned safely or not.
Later on the Germans did come into the camp and ensured us that if we did not make any further attempts to escape, they would arrange some football for us and assured us that we would not then go to Germany! In any case, they said that we would not get far if we did escape, because their troops were all around.
It had been alleged that our men had actually cut the throats of some Italian Carabineeri up in the woods, during our few days of freedom!
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