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PRISON LIFE IN ITALY AND GERMANY over more than four years in Fenmibaeraaae Bishopsate ALF. bhe Wig IT Jones of mee, looks particularly bright, tn. spe of ‘the hand he muooudered Whiint ti thy hands of the enema. writen camp ip April tat by the Beilish drive shortly before V Day, Phe, White wan just seven stone fas welsh, Pte, White went through many salts during the period of his con finement. He was captured for Benghasi in April, 10a. quite Ron ‘mel's frat big push, and the Wan later went to Italy. In about two a he was at four, campa in Italy, fiving on a starvation diet, and putting up with many In- Justices from the Italian. He de scribed the treatment meted out by the Italian, as rotten, ‘Things be cane so undearable that prisoners went on strike every Tew days. They were forced to work in water in rice elds, and other farming pursuits felt curled out in wheat and ont 5 eyice a week they received ‘meat ’ rations, which was in the form of stow, and the prisoner who found a piece of meat in his ration consider~ fed he won in lottery. For the greater part of the time in Italy, the Singleton soldier was with Australian, New Zealand, sud a few Bidlan soldiers. It was whilst he was in Italy that he ‘celebrated”’ his 21st Birhday, RENTED VLAT IN CENDA Upon the capitulation of Italy, Pe, White escaped from his prison CRM, with the newLalk months we eventful for him. He rented a flat In Genoa, and never had occasion to fear recapture, and he was constant ly awaiting his chance to Tice thr pom ETY. But a Woman tipped off the flying squad, and the next thing the Singleton goldier knew he was in Fuel, Inter to be transported to Cere many. Tn Italy, Puy. While came i con tact with Pie, Ray Andrews and #to Phi Wells, who arrived im Austrue ckelber abme months ago Pte. White described this life in Germany as more eventful When in Tily. Work, wh times, was bars, but according to the soldier, they wed the 1 kine to Germany, in compar ion to Italy. With other Australians, British, South Africans and New Zealandera, eee s ‘one time before they were found out, but he anid at the weight of their succeas”” they had the greatest black market In Ger maany, ‘ The German people etaved for sugar, and the supples which they were able to take out from the te s tory got them many amenities which the German people could not enjoy This included meat and new stabies ‘They were able to wet the sugae on by giving very small quantities to the guarde. ‘Por 2ibi. of sivas, Pto. Willie got a pair of spectacles which were equal , in quality to any being made In Ger many, Half One sugar Went, the prison camp commandant, and the Other tod noted eye specialst. MONEY OF NO VALUE AS any wenn, the esoners Wore Hover shot. out It Was oF Ap yalue to them. ‘They papered roomy with the noted. There were times when prisoners escaped from their camp, and gave themusclves usr 0 jiolice. Because they revelved better testaent, DY Mic InBeHNity Of some of their numbers, the prisoners wer able 60 hour of events in One clinic world, ‘And they had some Ides of how the Wine was woung, ‘A couple of wireless experts who Wito umionent the prisoners, gathered Woparta from Uma to time and maga wirelesser ‘These were sometimes found Ghd confiscated, but others Were triade to take their place. One Wirelay was with the prisoners from the time they left Thaly until they were set free, Tt mysteriously fol lowed the conlingest from camp by camp as a Ref Cross parcel, Wheb thy Russians fist, penetrated iste”dfences, Pre White wit h Por the next few weeks, they were in different parts of Germany, but those evéntast tials came when the Alina overwhelmed the defenders of Germany. Prisoners were forced to march long journeys with practic ally nothing Lorat A few who could Act Al and the strain were bayonized, and otters were warned that they became a weak i alek LrednLinie Aint fate would be theirs. ‘When the Russian advance slowed down, the pricctiers, with whom. Pa! White Was agtocintad were put to Were In Hanover, but their Jub Tested unity about six weeks. 1506 BOMBERS OVER HANOVER ‘Whilat the wae in UtA arcs he saw 800 British bombers over the cuty In one day. 1 Hanover ‘revealnd the greatcut de struction Witch the Singleton soldier encountered, and he stated that he acubated Aftery Were Wo Uricke stuck together, do affective was the bombing by the British and Almer enna. In various other parts of Germany, B. White had 1 had tie Allied .When things had in Ger te, Wiilbe wid the Pronth and Poles, who volunteered with the Daerah, write he Sion Srial |o the prisoners'’ stand over'* mem, ‘They wanted to be on the inning side, Ine roll, hel welt to extermon to show off.” Many of them even changed their nationality to Gere muna. Pur While was in camp 60 miler [tae fepun Seanover ‘wherep. Was Folmaser Op Avril 10 by Ue Mritian advance. ‘Their British operators locked the compounds, but aoe tae ie wire cubiere Wa them. Sie er me ides then took Se Saree ie Ente as VB-Day reached him. \
Newspaper Details
Singleton Argus
Singleton, New South Wales, AU
Wed, Jul 25, 1945
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Roland A.
AU 03 Aug 2026
Other Publications Near Singleton, New South Wales
Singleton Argus
Singleton Argus and Upper Hunter General Advocate
