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[Page 34]
On this occasion we travelled with our sentry in a special compartment set aside for dogs, and over the journey had much pleasure in opening up some of our English foodstuffs under the eyes of the sentry and two civilians who had just partaken of their "snack" of a couple of dry (paper thickness) slices of German bread - it certainly gave us pleasure to see their envious eyes compelled to turn away.
Our hours train journey brought us to our home town and we arrived about tea time to receive a great reception from the Englishmen of the party who came to our assistance with gifts of food and clothing that kept us going until our parcels started coming to hand.
Our reception from the sentries was somewhat strained and we were alloted to rooms higher up in the building that would offer us greater obstacles by way of escaping. I lost my once comfortable job in the house and had to go out to work with the remainder of the party. We were watched closely both at work and in the house, and at nighttime used to be awakened three or four times over the night to see that dummies we had in our places when we escaped before, were not taking our places now. However in spite of being closely watched we were able to get into communication again with our lady friends per medium of a length of cotton-reaching from Xtes one of the top windows to the/ street below. Unfortunately we were unable to visit them again, but through our letters managed to get another detailed map and more particulars as regards train travelling.
Finding the long working hours did not offer us time enough to make preparations for our next attempt,and in order to get our clothes ready, I determined on getting sick-time, so with that intention in mind I managed to poison my left hand by rubbing rust into a blister, which through the swelling, necessitated it being lanced by the Doctor -- this bit of swindling got me a fortnight in the barracks.
In the meanwhile my pals working outside managed to smuggle in a length of stout wire unobserved, and our preparations were beginning to be well advanced.
About this time our food parcels were being stolen in transit, several out of each batch being missing, but through the vegetables that were stolen from the trains whilst the party were at work we managed to knock out an existence.
Through the previous interpreter having the luck to escape and a "Tommy" now installed in his stead- rows with the Germans
were almost an everyday occurrence, Charles,the South African, had been the right man in the right place, and had at all times kept harmony amongst the men, and kept the Germans in the right