13 Oct 1918: POW Graudenz

Sunday. Oct 13th     Latest news! Germany’s new socialist or democratic government has accepted Wilson’s terms, have consented to evacuate Belgium and France, prior to discussing peace terms, as a guarantee of good faith.

Have since had a most interesting and enlightening talk with a very decent interpreter.  He confidently expects peace within a week.  He told us with tears in his eyes of the way the German people had been led by the nose, how that, for the sake of their country and the cause which they had been taught to believe was right their armies had struggled in the field and their civilians had suffered at home; how that his wife and five kiddies had been nearly starving in Berlin for two years – living on the barest rations, existing in rooms with no fire throughout the winter, allowed gas for cooking for only an hour or so each day; how that theirs was no isolated case, but common to all Germany; how that they had all, soldiers and civilians stuck it out, only to find now that they have been deceived by their leaders.  It transpires that Wilson promised them peace in 1916 and again in 1917 with his guarantee for Alsace Lorraine – but their leaders, lustful of conquest, and the large firms like Krupps, desirous of continuance of the war, rejected the proposal, nor had the average man in the street in Germany the slightest inkling that a tentative proposal had been made.

The sufferings, he added, they had cheerfully borne, but now, to know that, not only was it in vain, but actually in a wrong cause, was heartbreaking.

It was a very interesting and rather a pitiful tale he told.  But what most concerns us is that, please God, we’ll be home by Xmas, or soon after.  Hurrah!!!

Inman dressed up as a girl tonight.  Quite a success.  The German officer was frightfully tickled when he entered for the evening roll call.

On parole the other day we met a whole crowd of French officers.  We all saluted and yelled greetings to each other and one officer waved to me and called out ‹À bientot en France›

6 Oct 1918: POW Graudenz

Sunday. Oct 6th     The news for the last two months has been simply and increasingly glorious.  The final achievements in the last few days, the caving-in of Bulgaria, the smashing of the Turk in Palestine, the successive capture of Armentières, St. Quentin, Lens, La Bassée, Roulers &c. have set our hearts beating.  Today there comes the rumour of a fresh peace proposal from this side.  I wonder!!

4 Oct 1918: POW Graudenz

Friday Oct 4th.     Tonight, about 7.15, the electric lights flickered but failed to go out.  A minute or two afterwards there was a hubbub outside.  It turned out that Capt. Clinton, just released from cells for his attempt at escape viâ the tunnel, had made his sixth successful attempt.  He climbed from an upper window along the insulated electric cables (the scheme for turning off the electric lights to aid him failed) swarmed down a rope once he had crossed the barbed wire, and jumped over the outer wall.  Jolly stout fellow!  He was seen and they gave chase but he soon got lost in the moonless night.  Hope he gets away!

28 Sept 1918: POW Graudenz

Saturday Sept 28th     Got a photo of the Kidlet and an old Bournemouth snap.  Topping to see home photos here.

Nearly forgot to mention; Gerson has been for a long time very keen on escaping.  Last Tuesday [24th Sept] he donned his British Warm, whose pockets were stuffed with biscuits chocolates, Horlicks malted milk, Bovril tablets &c, enough food for ten days.  We shoved him into one of the washing bags together with piles of dirty washing (Pretty filthy for him) – carried him downstairs (Hell of a sweat) and chucked him over the stone balustrade on to the washing cart, I being below to break his fall, and to arrange other sacks around him.  Unfortunately, due to the non-sympathy and wind-up of one of our officers, who was in charge of the washing, we got no help in the matter, and no orderlies to assist us.  He was half buried in the washing bags, and the driver, trampling the bags down, managed, despite our efforts, to tread on his head.  Between pain and suffocation, he fairly yelled, but was unobserved except by us, who loosened the mouth of the bag.  He was carted out, but unfortunately, his cart being heavily loaded, they decided to move some bags to the other cart, when his bag was discovered.  Some fellow stuck a bayonet through it, but fortunately missed him, merely doing their washing a bit of good.  Gerson has been in clink ever since but we take up for him his meals, books &c. regularly.

27 Sept 1918: POW Graudenz

Friday Sept 27th.     Great blowing of trumpets, hooters, sackbuts and psalteries at 5.40 this morning!  Alarm.  Proceeded to dress leisurely, wash &c and paraded on the square with my fellow victims, clad in sweater and British Warm with a couple of biscuits in my pocket in case of delay.  Roll called.  Legions of armed guards marched in (about half a battalion) and surrounded us on all sides.  Officers in blue, pink red yellow; mostly staff people.  It transpired that a methodical search of our rooms and persons was to take place.  The members of each room in turn were called in.  Numbers of civilians, expert searchers, “smellers out” were employed.  In brief, Block I went before Block II and we were the last room but one of Block II.  Hence we were kept on the parade ground, and it was cold and drizzling with rain most of the time, from 6.15 to 2.15, eight hours in all!!!

18 Sept 1918: POW Graudenz

Wednesday Sept 18th.     Yesterday and today are two of the hottest days we’ve had this year.  For that reason, or for pure cussedness, I’ve done more than on any day.  This morning at 7, Miller, Gerson and I ran up and down passing a Rugger pill – later while they had a cold bath I ran another half mile.  Later, after breakfast, I played a strenuous game of Hockey, in which I displayed considerable keenness but little skill. Had a cold bath after it.  Topping!

16 Sept 1918: POW Graudenz

Monday Sept 16     Got up at 6.45, as usual lately, ran round the square five times, which about equals a mile, came back and cooked breakfast, and then discovered that the clock had been put back to winter time, so that it was then only 7 oclock.  One of our mess, who shall be nameless, after breakfast went back to bed again.

All who escaped have been recaptured, except two, mostly on the Polish border, and by patrols, who are probably out for deserters.  The two who are still at large are two Flying Corps fellows, one an Australian.  Good luck to them!