Ms. notebook. Originally intended pre-war as an address/contacts book, with notes...

Ms. notebook. Originally intended pre-war as an address/contacts book, with notes and humorous anecdotes, booklists, music lists and decoration details. Also contains names & addresses of people & of Companies in the food trade in Australia & New Zealand, names & addresses of army friends mentioned elsewhere, a Red Cross Missing List, rail route timings - Laufen - Posen, Posen - Thorn & Thorn - Biberach. Later he wrote 71 pages in ink, being diary notes, observations and events covering the P.o.W.s move, from Eichstaett to Moosberg, their liberation and evacuation. (Friday, 13 April - Tuesday, 8 May, 1945).

(p.1) Friday, 13 April Move seems definite - PATCH too slow compared to PATTON - Reveille 05:00 - Parade 07:00 - 17:00 JERRY & JH decide to make cart - 22:00 make useless tin wheels - 24:00 try to make wooden wheels, saw breaks - MICK ok, going by transport - burn old clothing - surfeit of food.

(p.2) Sat. 14 April Carrying 100lbs. 10 days after blackouts on trying to stand - rumour: destination is Innsbruck, Moosberg, Regensburg or Salzburg, somewhere S. of R. Donau (Danube) - cartwheels from gramophone turntables - rubbish fires burning, tea brewing - 10:00 move out towards Landeshofen - USAF Mustangs spot German truck convoy, opposite side of valley.

(p.3) USAF Thunderbolts drop bombs, destroy trucks - we must show no white flags or guards will shoot - sat in ditch, smoking, as .55 rounds hit road 5' away - lie flat in field.

(p.4) Feel helpless - JERRY & SIMON 20yds away - lay in reeds with JOHN MCD, CHARLIE, DICK and others - few injuries - march on ordered - THOMPSON says "back to camp - Germans say "back to camp, transport wounded" - rumour: 5 dead, 20 wounded, 2 Germans killed - white "p.o.w." now painted on roofs.

(p.5) Nearer 60 wounded - Germans seem not to know what's going on - officers streaming back to camp from all directions - British make good job of "taking over", esp. C.R.E. TEDDY PARKER - DAVID SEARLE got 2 x .55s through his pack - BOB HASTINGS got one through beret on head - JIMMY DAVIDSON, one through mess-tin at side - DIACK shot through sporran - nearest shell to JH - 2' - Commandant wants night move - THOMPSON: emphatic "No", 6 killed, 4 very seriously wounded, died later, 52 wounded & 3 Germans killed - JOHNNIE L-R, CORNELIUS dragged wounded BUSTY STEVENS off road.

(p.6) Camp showing signs of strafing - some escapees, BOB MELSAM & MICKY SMILEY - night move ordered, Sun. 15 Apr, 19:00 - JOCK HIGGON to recce. for lie-ups & billets - fed up with all this, why not let us be recaptured?

(p.7) April 15 Germans plan night move for 22:00 - 3 more wounded die - ERIC AUDEN lost an arm, FREDDIE COUSENS, a leg - several feet amputated - march 45 mins. every hour - kit too heavy - British discipline good, Germans reasonable - very tired, reminiscent of France [1940?] - sleep till 07:30 in farm buildings on straw, absolute bliss.

(p.8) April 16 Wash & shave under farm pump - fighters overhead - breakfast in implement shed - Farmer's wife had 2 sons (9,11 yrs.) killed by air-raid on Ingelstadt, 1 (17 yrs.) on front, 1 (22 yrs.) P.o.W. in USA - Ingelstadt & Regensberg bombed - expect to cross Danube tonight - lay in orchard, feed ducklings - manners returning.

(p.9) April 17 20:45 start march, shoulders hurt - cross München to Nurnburg autobahn - cross Danube E of Ingelstadt - bridge mined, ready to blow - bombing all around, 20 miles distant - 05:00 arrange billets in Ennsgaden - USAF strafe street, JH not woken - German desertions - 80 P.o.W. escapees - rumour: our column twice usual length whilst crossing Danube, used as cover - spoke to Luftwaffe pilot (200 Spange) who had been on raids over Coventry and Liverpool - shoulder packed up, kit to be transported.

(p.10) Germans less than Division strength S of Danube - no organised defence - 20:00 arrive Rottenegg - bombing raid - diahorrea. April 18 Many ill, dirty water - stay another night - German guards cannot go on - P.o.W.s treat them as they have no medical kit - stroll round village, & good night's sleep - 900 bombers went over.

(p.11) April 19 Slept well, porridge for breakfast - Red Cross transport sick to Moosberg direct - SIMON went, feet in cotton wool - Germans lost control, orders issued by Brigade - fibrositis in shoulders - trade cigarettes with friendly old ladies.

(p.12) Cigarettes, soap, cocoa or chocolate buys anything in Germany - they like photos of family, consider JH better dressed & mannered than German officers, despite 5 yrs. as P.o.W. - old men terrified of Americans - leave for Au in friendly atmosphere, enough cigarettes for weeks.

(p.13) March 22 kms., arr. Hebrontshausen 03:00 - billet in straw loft - poor village, 200 Silesian refugees eat most of food - get bread & eggs - even coat hurts shoulders - meet Serbian soldier - USAF Thunderbolts & Lightnings overhead - to stay for 3 days, Germans unwilling to move to Moosberg, as they will then have to go to front.

(p.14) Rumour: US over Danube, at Ingelstadt, Eichstaett practically surrounded. April 21st Leaky roof, cold and rain - not a very good birthday, but better than Adolf - ham & eggs for breakfast.

Sun. 22nd April Drink early tea in cowshed with Serb - seems likely Moosberg unavoidable destination - RAF from Nurnberg (originally Sagan) in next village.

(p.15) Back bad, shall go sick at Moosberg - rumour: French reached Constanz at Shoffhausen (Konstanz-Schaffhausen) - SANDY & BENNY mothered by old lady in house - 2000 other ranks from Lambsdorf come through, no kit, marching since Jan. - no Red Cross parcels since Feb. 15, living by stealing & barter - bought 36 eggs, scrambled eggs on toast.

Mon. 23rd April 05:30 move off - ordered to straggle, show white sheets and P.o.W. sign - back bad, hitched ride on farm cart.

(p.16) Uneventful march - German companies singing as they march out to training - 11:00 arr. outskirts of Moosberg - 12:00 smelt camp before arrival - every nationality mixed in pens, all pervading stink over everything - Russians in rags & Brit. boots - Sikh NCO, possibly seen at VI B (Dossel- Warburg) smartly salutes - have shower.

(p.17) Incredible sight: "Whitechapel Road, Limehouse & Liverpool slums licked into cocked hat" - 1" straw for bedding, no boards, no groundsheet - 1 lousy blanket - 1 cook-house for 4,000 - bed-boards on lower bunks burnt for fuel - stake out pitch on filthy floor.

(p.18) Sit on greatcoat, go into trance - other occupants from V A, Heilbröom, originally en route to us at VII B, (Eichstaett) - very tired - MICK, MARK, SIMON all well - NZ officers donate blankets, make tea - V A's S.B.O. Col. PAGE expects liberation within 36hrs.

(p.19) Tues. 24th April Wash & shave - 1 tap for 400 - food bad - "it's only a day or two now" - much trading - US want battledress for souvenirs - CURLY CURTIS's tale of escape on Sherman tank & recapture by Germans - less vermin than Posen.

(p.20) Wed. 25th April 02:30 Woke to hear that Allied Emergency Control had started organising - feigned sleep, avoiding becoming 1 of 40 guards & pickets - 07:00 wash & shave - 07:45 parade - compares Americans to Australians & New Zealanders - 15:00 stand by for SBO orders - read notice from Dr. MARTI, senior IRC rep. in Germany.

(p.21) "Geman Cmdr. decided not to move P.o.W.s in face of Allied advance, camp Cmdt. expected to comply" - we take over when Cmdt. has received and acknowledged order - everyone standing to kits - US still 40 miles away - USAF overhead - V B's kit everywhere, chaos - lean on former stove - bowels better - bombing close.

(p.22) Thur.26th April Don't expect US to arrive until Saturday - rumour: recce. units in Freising & Landshut, PATTON across Danube, E of Regensburg - STAHL says VII B captured by PATTON - Steinberg also freed Wed. eve. - 2 packets tea for 1 coffee - LABATT flap - privates BARTRAM & DRIVER, from our battalion turn up - marched from Silesia, casualties, no food - BARHAM is here - rumour: 4000 Russians, 29 Generals coming today.

(p.23) Rumour: majority of guards leave tonight - Isar bridge mined with 500- 1000lb. bomb - PATCH 50km NW of Munich - PATTON has crossed Danube in strength, in 3 places, E & W of Regensburg - rumour: fighting in Mainburg, probably true - both armies within 30 miles, SW to NNE - sick in stomach. Friday 27th April Rumours: Bavaria has asked for an armistice, German armies in S. Germany capitulated - PETER, HENRY C., DOUGLAS REITH & ANDREW BIGGAR have also been ill for 2 days.

(p.24) Momentous days, imminent liberation - no feeling of elation - dull from "prison flux" - 3 US soldiers wounded nearby, taken past camp to hospital in town - leaflet drop, signed by CHURCHILL, TRUMAN & STALIN - heavy bombing & gunfire - Luftwaffe ME109s & Ju.88s flying fast & low - 13:00 confirmation of GOERING's resignation - 5 privates from our battalion here, BARTRAM, DRIVER, BAILEY, BANNER & a RQMS - all were at Blackhammer, Silesia & treated disgracefully.

(p.25) 3 month march, no food provided except 1½ Red Cross parcels each - good treatment by locals when passing through Czecho-Slovakia - several shot because they could not go on - Brit. Warrant Officers have guards responsible arrested on arrival - doctor also said troops fit to march when unfit - Capt. LAKE helped but left before march - working in oil-plant much bombed.

(p.26) He arranged parole so that they could shelter in woods during bombing - 15:00 camp taken over by Brit. guards & pickets - fences taken down - rumour: Bavarian armistice - USAF occasionally overhead - 20:00 US 7th army 25 miles NW of Munich - German guards have not all left - Brit. guards & pickets told to keep under cover near wire to prevent Russians escaping - 1 loaf to 12 men - rumour: 2 armoured columns 12 & 17 kms. away, awaiting infantry support.

(p.27) Saturday 28th April 07:15 Flea bitten, pouring with rain - battle going on 18 km. NW - JOHN BUCKLETON's bet - 12:00 Bavaria capitulated at 10:00 today - US may arrive this afternoon - Crown Prince of Bavaria, separatist - will Ludwigs rule Bavaria again? - 16:00 rumour: GIZZLER (Gauleiter of München) & SS thugs ousted Peace Party & orders "fight to the end".

(p.28) US pilot shot down over Berchtesgaden says all spare aircraft being used to ferry P.o.W.s home - Lancaster holds 34 - German guards still standing about - 17:30 GIZZLER rumour correct - US driving S from Regensberg - SS units to E & W of camp - gunfire closer, NNW - German Cmdt. not yet handing camp over, waiting for order - rumour: PATTON killed - 19:50 Brit. flap on - 22:00 Brit. parade ordered - rumour: tank battle at Mainburg, 27 kms. away - JOHNNY GRANVILLE back today, hopped off at Rottenegg.

(P.29) He was picked up by police, not SS - also VINCENT HOLLOM - to hospital to see Sgt. KING, injured by anti-personnel mine - US 7 Kms. up road - Germans on guard on way to hospital, Brits. on guard upon return - Russians, Serbs, Mongolians, French & Belgians all talking together - 20:00 HIMMLER offers unconditional surrender to GB.

Sunday 29th April Heavy gunfire all night, close - 07:00 wake - 08:00 Brit. parade - USAF overhead - 10:00 local battle starts - Machine gun fire 200yds. outside camp - rumour: SS v Wehrmacht.

(p.30) 10:40 4 tanks N to NW of camp, probably US - (23:00 Camp handed over to Allies, 04:00 Isar Bridge blown) - 10:50 spasmodic gunfire - "I wonder if we're being relieved" - good breakfast, fried bacon, egg powder & potatoes - 11:00 lull - 11:02 US definitely in area - US tanks on hill 1½ miles to W - tank warning going off in local town - 11:10 sound of tanks 400yds. away - 2 artillery recce. planes overhead.

(p.31) Puffs of smoke from church tower - machine gun fire towards camp - French flag flying from factory nearby - 12:00 battle dies down - rumour: 150-200 Nazis resisting in town - Situation report by Brit.: - last night German Cmdr. sent for Group Captain WILLETTS, suggests both go to US troops at a bridge, no US troops seen, so suggests repeat at 02:30 - on way meet SS General, who suggests camp & surrounding area be neutral zone until relieved - WILLETTS turns down as bridges would be denied to US - 03:10 meet US General.

(p.32) He gives SS General til 09:00 to surrender - Luftwaffe Major, 2nd i/c orders remaining guards & troops not to embroil themselves & to ditch ammo., no shots fired - 12:30 SS General did not surrender this morning, was beaten & driven S of town - US tanks in camp - 12:40 US flag flies over Moosberg - 13:00 US flag flies over camp, US P.o.W.s remove hats.

(p.33) Flags of all nations now flying over every block, everyone very friendly - rumour: 60 km. truck journey, plane to Le Havre or England, 1st party goes tonight - all to be evacuated in 3 days - Sherman tank? - "a heap of men 12' high, moving slowly along main camp road" - US soldier given special leave to liberate his brother, produces & shares alcohol with him - German kit sought for souvenirs, hard to get near any - tank crews throw out ammo. & sign autographs - JH finishes chocolate to celebrate.

(p.34) 15:30 warned for perimeter guard at 16:00 - ordered to prevent exit & entrance to camp except on pass by WILLETTS - tanks, ambulances, jeeps parked outside - Russians come back laden with looted fowls, ducks, geese & rabbits, trousers full of spuds, firewood on shoulders - they have starved for 5 years - they trash Cmdt's admin. buildings - US tank crew say they attacked town/camp area in tank battalion strength, meeting little resistance - a division is pushing forward towards Munich & Antwerp - expect infotake over camp tomorrow.

(p. 35) Much German equipment lying around - Russians loot bakery, find the alcohol - alcohol, weapons & German uniforms taken off them by provost - 18:30 end guard - stew: pea-powder & bully - guard placed on Red Cross to stop Russians looting it - radios going all round camp - admires build quality of Sherman tank & Jeep - 04:00-06:00 guard duty - shot of looted hooch, not very nice - US Infantry arrive - Germans prisoners in pen, no beds & bowl of gruel for supper.

(p.36) Russians celebrate and eat very well - Monday 30th April 03:45 rise - 04:00 guard duty - light machine gun fire as SS resistance is wiped out - went to cheese factory, chat with US sentry - given 2 blocks of cheese by NZ soldier - US troops sleep, helmet attached to one shoulder, kit to other, rifle by side - 06:30 off guard duty - Russians still out getting booty - hear PATCH has entered Munich - we were relieved by 14th Armoured Div., 3rd US Army (PATTON).

(p.37) US Transport Div. to arrive 12:00, evacuation to start - photos taken of camp by US Brigadier - 11:00 US Red Cross jeeps arrive, covered in jubilant US P.o.W.s, with 4 US nurses in boiler suits - S.H.A.E.F. set up war crimes court - artillery duel & light machine gun fire - full Red Cross parcel issued - 16:00 guard duty, US troops pay no heed to guards.

(p.38) Brit. Major attched to S.H.A.E.F. says 5-7 days before evacuation - US 3rd Army crossing Isar to attack German units which have artillery support - 18:00 come off guard, 2hrs of reasoning with unreasonable Kreigies - supper - 22:00 1000 US P.o.W.s loot town - MPs unwilling to take action - told evacuation may start tomorrow - absolutely fed up with P.o.W. life.

(p.39) Tuesday 1st May Colonel commanding Battn. critical of officers for slack running of camp, but not of those actually responsible - 09:00 truckload of sick due to go to Regensburg do not - lack of info. from control, "worse than the Goons" - 600 loaves baked, 450 stolen, presumably by our people - 1/12th loaf in last 4 days, hungry.

(p.40) JERRY trades 20 cigs. for tin of flour - 1 meal per day at present - evacuation to Brussels 7 days off - possible issue of biscuits - cold, snow - all attempts to break out will be court martialed for attempted looting - wood collection parties agreed - £2-10-0 returned, confiscated Laufen VII C 5yrs. ago - hear programme on Lückenwalde concentration camp, about PRINCESS MAFELDE, wife of PRINCE of HESS - "different to pre-war BBC stuff" - probably true but similar to German propaganda, disbelieved for 5 yrs.

(p.41) BBC female presenter causes SIMON, JERRY, JOHNNY L-R & JH to laugh - US soldier's tragic tale of 12yo German Spandaugunner - 30-40 jeeps in camp - General PATTON visits - pearl handled gun & bandolier of .45 ammo.

(p.42) Bad-tempered but eventually laughed, made speech, referred to good morale - visit Sgt. KING in hospital - he off to Regensberg, told he will be in England tonight - give him 10/- for a drink on arrival - hear of another capitulation offer from HIMMLER - damper for tea - 16:00 US Army takes over food supplies for camp - 9 tons beef, 2 lbs. flour per head, 2lbs. civilian bread per head - hear that mobile doughnut kitchens to be sent to camp - output: 1500 doughnuts per hour - HQ Mainburg say airstrip 5 miles from camp, then to Le Havre, Dieppe or England by DC-4 - PATTON worried about Typhus in camp.

(p.43) Rain, sleet, hail, wind - Russians hold May day parade - JH not able to re-enter camp for 1½ hrs. after visiting hospital - General MOGASHENKO takes parade - hospital evacuated - rumour: 200 lorries taking 50 apiece, ready for evacuation - hear that today is Day 1, evacuation begins D-3, completed by D-7 - evacuation seems definite - 12 US women visit camp.

(p.44) US Red Cross unit & 2 more divs. arrive - guard duties end - 8oz. cheese issue - US find 6,000 Red Cross parcels in Beilingrice, near Eichstaett, & deliver to camp - blank 'plane tickets arrive.

(p.45) Wednesday 2nd May 1" snow, hail - US nurse killed by Hitler Youth - Hitler Youth lynched - 7 bodies handed over to Major PARKER - allowed to walk in nearby woods - hear destination UK via Brussels, possibly tomorrow - transport to Landshut aerodrome.

(p.46) Radio reports capture of E. M. VON RUNSTEDT & F. M. VON LIEB, associated with DEGRELLE - RIBBENTROP replaced - HITLER dead, DÖNITZ replaces - tale of NZ soldier, escapes 383 col., joins US recce. unit, leads them back, recaptures mates, settles scores with guards, acquires weapons - possible airlift tomorrow.

(p.47) Some will leave main gate 08:30 tomorrow, according to BARNEY - JERRY to go - delays in arrangements - Indians to fly first - smartest & best disciplined of any nation in the camp - US Field Army taking over running of camp - US field bakery, 1st white bread for 5 years, very light & frothy.

(p.48) Delouse & bath - Thursday 3rd May Very cold, fleas biting - DAVID SEARLE & SCALES to go first - JH rumoured to leave Saturday - possibly Friday.

(p.49) Space in hut taken over by US & Russians - sit on kit to prevent being taken - BERTIE GREENWOOD left kit for few minutes & lost it - SIMON came round, JH will send telegram to Kate - BARTRAM, family taking on pub - 2 officers went to Eichstaett yesterday - hospitalised evacuated to England same day as recaptured - our baggage moved to Rathaus, guarded by US - no info. here.

(p.50) Conflicting rumours - officers have left Landshut for Brussels - TEDDY PARKER A.Q.M.G. says no departures Friday as aerodrome in bad condition & weather bad - Nebraskan senator in car with police siren says double the planes tomorrow - disillusion - suspects HQ unable to cope & apprehensive of P.o.W.s - offload spare food & clothes, still waiting - sick of HQ "rabble".

(p.51) Friday 4th May Feel better for sleep but still narked - 10 Russian Generals flown out, without having controlled their "ruffians" - 16 cases of rape in Moosberg - 650 of 3200 flown out of Landshut - 3rd Army HQ takes over camp midnight - lucky to get away by Sunday - small food issue - Brit. troops looting, according to BARHAM.

(p.52) He has prison flux/jail fever for 3 days - clear hut of everything left by departees, still pretty disgusting - no furniture - keep food closed away from all-pervading dust - not allowed out of camp as bugle may signal order to leave - went to 4.5 Regt. Gun Park - sat & smoked by R. Isar, rather cold.

(p.53) US troops grenade river for fish - bulk food issue - no news of movement - MICK & SIMON supply cigarettes - DESMOND MULHOLLAND interviews Russian General who will not issue orders to Russians, because of bad P.o.W. treatment since 1941, Germans would have to take all that was coming.

(p. 54) Russians kill sow with axes - US troops burn rubbish, JH feels unclean, place a festering cess-pit, depressing - 530 flown out yesterday - WILLETTS & GOOD get no joy at Landshut, going tonight to 3rd Army HQ to see PATTON.

(p.55) More info. at 22:00 - rumour: to be billeted in farms & towns, would rather go home - polish plate & buttons to pass time - "this useless writing" - no info., bed.

Saturday 5th May No info. - rumours: yesterday's weather too bad, 530 have reached England - G.C. WILLETTS speaks to BBC - Colonel GOOD flitting all over the place.

(p.56) He promises influential connections, including EISENHOWER to speed up departure - US say 30,000 men in bad way in camp between Moosberg & Munich will be evacuated first - nothing but rumours - Salzburg surrenders to PATCH - 4,000 Allied officers liberated near Berchtesgaden - gone through Brenner, joined 5th Army in N. Italy - hear that MONTGOMERY signs surrender terms of 1,000,000 in N. German armies - VON KLEIST captured in Tirch, also HIMMLER's 2 i/c - doughnut issue, longest ever queue in P.o.W.dom - reward not worth the queueing.

(p.57) Spent morning yarning to SIMON - hear that Lancasters flew 3000 out day before yesterday - we want news, not history - S. African officer sends card- "am prisoner of the Americans & am well treated" - eat when & what one likes - coke for smokers, rapid tea brewing - cold, rain, sleet, another non-flying day - still a virtual "prisoner", what's another week after 5 years?

(p.58) Impatient - will visit MBU for good scrub - arrival shirt only clean clothes, too early for it yet - will probably save it for the future, due to P.o.W. mentality, after return home - German P.o.W.s, 2000 in barn - cooking on smokers, very miserable - they will toughen up - easy, now, to say that, as "one always knew we were going to win" - for them, uncertainty - rumour: 1,000 aircraft to be used to evacuate this area.

(p.59) Pouring with rain - suggest to Adjt. that US equivalent of NAAFI come to supply cigarettes - offered 3 hr. pass for "wood gathering", a piece of wood not required for re-entry - guards do not know what these passes look like, P.o.W.s stream in and out with no passes - went for walk by R. Isar to bombed bridge.

(p.60) Several optimists fishing, including NEIL PERRINS - area round camp swarming with Kreigies - CARL NODEN came in with letter for GUY ROBINSON - some billeted in flats round Landshut airfield - 530 who had left were US, some friction between departmental heads over evacuation.

(p.61) Soon to be 5000 per day - no report from WILLETTS or GOOD - am 86th on list to read "the Times", April 23rd, 8 days wait to go, if it's still intact - consider contacting S.H.A.E.F. to bring family out as "little possibility of getting to them" - 2 mobile cinemas to arrive - need good latrines & mobile kitchen - talk & evidence of US & Brits getting home on their own - 200 US P.o.W.s missing - 8 left in 2 cars marked "C.A.P." - 2 in dog-cart behind 2 chestnut horses - discuss making a break for it.

(p.62) SANDY rumours: lorry service to Luxembourg, from there by plane - source of letter (p.61) to GUY ROBINSON was DON RITCHIE - raining hard - coffee & 1 of last cigarettes - visited MICK & missed info. on lorries to move 1,500 every 2 hrs., 5000 a day, but no aeroplanes.

(p.63) Cinema arrives - doughnut machines depart - no food issue.

Sunday 6th May Wrote to FH on V-card - read copy of "Life" for 15 mins. - detail by KEN CLARK at 12:00 - weather stopping evacuation - hear SCHUSHNIGG released - cinema show, ironically "The Thin Man Goes Home".

(p.64) 2 eggs per 3 officers & men, cheese & dried veg. - doughnuts reappear - no news on evacuation - bad weather affecting flights - US General, Provost Marshal of US Forces Police Commission Congress Committee came, inspected camp, departed, saying nothing to anyone - THOMPSON grabbed 2 Generals, paced them round camp, surprised them somewhat - another iron in the fire? - wrote to FH, "home in 1 month", unwise, should be "home for Xmas" - cheese & sauerkraut - high wind, little rain, half-hearted sunshine.

(p.65) New camp C.O., Colonel EARP - no passes out - hope V-day will not affect departure - hear Dutch are being fed by air & sea, they gave so generously to P.o.W.s - camp radio says "requisition made for large number of aircraft to evacuate this camp" - to start tomorrow.

(p.66) More aerodromes being sought - US Major-General who visited with Commission expressed "horror & surprise" at the conditions - Colonel THOMPSON said "I was prisoner of the Germans for 5 yrs., never treated like this last week in all that time", brave words - rumour: 250 start move Monday at Landshut - will not believe anything until home - impatient wait for tomorrow - hear fusilade of shots & yells from US lines - Colonel GOOD announced 17,000 to be evacuated tomorrow.

(p.67) Spoke to American who broke camp & went to Landshut to try for a lift - says that over 100 P.47s streamed in while he was there - no belief - 22:00 stand by - 06:00 (Monday) officially to move - almost excited, but frightened that there's some mistake - 5,200 Brits to go tomorrow - 11,000 US ready to go from 05:00 - shave, wash, lie down.

Monday 7th May 01:00 final orders - 04:00 reveille - 04:25 form up - 04:35 move - 05:00 pass main gate - washed, had good breakfast & am ready - fields & roads round camp crammed with transports evacuating from Ingelstadt & Regensburg.

(p.68) 08:00 moved off - 09:30 arr. Landshut - 750 Brits & 1,750 US still on field, very disappointed - Brit. quarters in block of flats cleared of occupants by C.M.P.s in ½ hour - 10:00 6 transports sighted, but fly over, more depression - 12:55 Air Commodore & Squadron Leader (JOHN STEVENSON's brother) land - 2 aircraft arrive with air staff & hospital staff - 14:15 64 planes have landed - hot day, 200 planes expected - 15:00 planes stop arriving - 16:15 told little chance of going today, Indian Battn. get off - 18:00 told to find own billet for night.

(p.69) Brit. soldier takes JH, BARNEY & BILL MANN - tea, beds, cooked supper, more tea - so kind, overwhelming - stroll round village with BARNEY - it's full of US & Brit ex-P.o.W.s - hear radio: Germany surrenders unconditionally - BLASKOWITZ' capitulation - 11th Hussars control post - 15:00 WINNIE (P.M.) to speak - 21:00 H.M. (King George VI) to speak - VE day tomorrow.

Tuesday 8th May On plane - 06:00 woken & given tea by troops who had adopted us - 07:00 plate of porridge (plane taxiing, handwriting affected) - 08:00 arr. Landshut aerodrome, heavy mist, endless speculation - BARNEY, BILL & JH still together - BARNEY in plane following.

(p.70) Another breakfast by roadside - truckloads of P.o.W.s from Moosberg pass, presumably for Ingelstadt & Regensberg - 6 planes arrived before 10:00 - 10:40 40 planes arrived, began to hope - 11:15 77 aircraft arrived or departed - 11:30 112 aircraft on ground or departed - 6 flights have already gone - 12:30 get to plane - 12:50 we're off, very smooth, ears popping - Goodbye, Germany, after 5 yrs. - 1 loaded plane veered on take-off, crashed into 5 others on ground - 2 injured, 5 planes burnt out - 2 hr. delay, all take-offs & landings temporarily stopped - loads cut to 20 from 28 - BILL not knowing when he leaves - in the air & on our way.

(p.71) Destination Rheims - surrender is being signed - 14:57 crossed Danube - saw Stuttgart - bombed out - 17:10 trip uneventful, landed Rheims - desolate aerodrome - passed over Verdun before landing.