The Deliverance From Wittenberg: The Journal of Private Hutchinson, No. 5475 First Battalion, Manchester Regiment

I

BUT on the 25th of April I wanted to live. As I was sitting on my bed just eating my bread with a bit of salt to it, I had a letter from my wife begging for news from me and telling that she got news from the War Office on the 30th March telling her that I was a prisoner of war in Germany. I may say that it eased my mind a great deal to know she knew where I was. I was able to write back and tell her that I was all right, etc., as I was feeling a lot better then. The sun was beginning to have its effect on me. I used to be out of the room as much as possible when the sun was shining. On the 28th April I had an order for 2s. 6d., but I could not spend it at the time, as they would not give us the money, We had to put down for some groceries, so I put down for 3 lbs. of sugar. 1 lb. of margarine, and 1 jar of syrup. I was about a month before I got them. On the 1st May, I had 34 packets of Woodbine cigarettes come from the Chums Association of my town [Worksop] which were a godsend to me. I had not had a smoke since I came out of hospital, but I was not long before I had one of them on the go. It was the first real smoke since I was captured, and I felt quite drunk after the first cigarette, and not only me but a few of the boys as well.

I was beginning to feel new life then. On the 7th of May we were allowed to send a post-card home for the first time since the failure of the 1st of January one. So I wrote home again asking my wife to send me a few things to eat, and not forgetting to mention a smoke. I did not build any high hopes this time of them going, as I had had enough of the other one, but I found out later that mine had got through. A few days later we were all removed into No. 8 compound, when I think some of the sentries went mad for the lust of killing some one. It was on the evening of the 20th of May that a Frenchman was going to hospital inside the wire enclosure, but not in the compound, and he stopped to talk to one of his comrades through the wires, and whilst talking he was shot through the back by one of the sentries not twenty yards away. There the poor fellow fell and died. No one was allowed to go out to his aid under penalty of being served the same, not for a long time after. Then the alarm went, and we had to get back to our rooms. Then there was some more shooting, so we had to keep low for a while. I saw seven carried by on tables and I heard afterward that three were dead and the remainder wounded, and that one of them was shot dead whilst just peeping through the room door. All those poor fellows were shot for practically nothing. No reason whatsoever.

The next day they had us all fall in at the bottom of the compounds. They then turned the guns towards us, and had a lot of soldiers lining the ditches around the camp, just the same as if they were going to attack the camp and kill the lot of us. After they had had us like that for about half an hour, the whistle blew, and I may say there was a race for the rooms then. I do not know what their idea was, but if it were to let us see what they could do in case anything went wrong in camp, there was no need for that demonstration, as nothing ever happened to show the slightest cause whilst I was in that camp. And I was there from the 26th December, 1914, to the time of leaving for Switzerland on the 25th May, 1916. Of course there were small offenses, for which the offenders were punished by being tied up to the posts in the hot sun, and the ropes were drawn so tight the poor fellow could scarcely breathe and some of them would go blue in the face. Any punishment that they could think of was not bad enough for them to inflict on a man, such as making them stand on their toes with their hand on their hips for an hour or more, and some balanced on their toes with knees bent and a piece of wood to represent a rifle held out at arm’s length. If there is any one who reads this and cannot imagine what it is like, just try it for an hour with an empty stomach. And they were not allowed any soup. Then the Germans would laugh and jeer at them. In all my experience, they are the cruelest race of people I ever came across. I thank God to-day that I am an Englishman.

About the end of May I received a post-card from Holland, telling me that my wife was making inquiries through some firm there (I forget the name and place) to see if they could get news of me and if I were allowed to write. So my flag fell again, as I thought they could not have sent the last card, so I did not know what to do. I know I hated the Germans more than ever, for it is a cruel thing to be kept in suspense for such a long time. But imagine my joy on the 10th June when I received a post-card from my wife telling me that she had received my card dated 7th May and that she sent a box of foodstuff off on the 27th, the same day she got my card. I felt like forgiving the Germans all they had done to me, so I was left wondering if I would get the box, and what a feed I should have when it came. I could not sleep many a night for thinking about it, and so on the 28th June the welcome box came, not only one but two. The one from my wife and the other from her dear mother, who I am proud to say has been the best friend to my wife and children and also myself in our time of anxiety and trouble.

Well, I was not long in having the boxes open to see the good things inside, and when I saw the currant loaves, I had a good fill. It was a wonder that I did not make myself bad, for I ate a whole two-pound loaf and some cheese straight off, as I felt as if I could not leave it alone. Then I had a good smoke. After that I felt very comfortable, more than ever since I was taken out of the trenches. I was happy for a week. We were now allowed to write a post-card every Saturday, so with that I was able to keep in communication with home and that was worth a lot to me, as we had been practically cut off from the world without any news at all. About the 10th of July I had another parcel, and to my surprise it was a large fruit-cake. I should think it were about eight pounds, and one of the finest cakes that ever came into that camp, and I had the great pleasure of having two of them from my own town, Worksop; but I do not even know now who sent them. But I hope to have the pleasure of thanking them when I get home again. Then I went another month without receiving any more. But the parcels began to come in pretty frequent by then, as the people in England began to get to know where their boys were. I had another post-card from my wife, telling me that she was sending me a parcel of food every week. But I never got a lot of them. I went almost two months without receiving one of her weekly parcels, so I wrote and told her not to send any more, as I were not getting them. Then the very next week they started coming and they came very regular. I only missed three, after sending the card, up to the time of my coming away, as she would insist on sending me one whether I got them or not.

I had four parcels from Lady Beauclerk’s Fund, but they stopped for about three months. After that I received five more from her, and I also had five from the Lancashire Regiments war funds, also a complete outfit of clothing from them, which I was wanting very badly, as my old khaki was getting the worse for wear. Some of the tinned stuff would reach us in a very bad state. The Germans would stab with their bayonets tins of syrup, milk, salmon, and corned beef. Anything that would go bad or waste they would stab; even the tea, sugar, coffee, cocoa, soap, and tobacco would be all mixed up together, and then the milk and syrup would run out of the tins where they had stabbed them, and all over the remainder of the stuff. But after a few complaints the parcels would come intact, which went to show that the damaged ones we used to get had been damaged wilfully.

July passed without anything of importance to my knowledge. About the 11th August we had a severe shock. I will endeavor to tell the story as best I can. I was laid on my bed about 8 P.M. when one of the boys shouted across to me and asked me if I knew what the light was which were shining on the other side of the room. I looked across, but could only see the electric light shining through the window from outside, so I told him that it was only the lamp from outside. Then he said, ‘ Not that one; have a look through the window.’ So I did. Then I saw what he meant, for I could see a big red glare over the other side of the camp. I told him there must be a big fire and then I ran outside to get a better view of it. When I got to the end of the bungalow I shouted for them to come and have a look, but I had no sooner shouted when bang! went a terrific report which shook the whole camp. There were six steps to go up into our room. I do not know how I got on to the top one, but that was where I found myself. Then I turned round to have a look at what damage it had done, but all I could see was a lot of men running as fast as they could. Some were shouting, ‘The d—d Germans are blowing the camp up !’ Then I saw one man dressed in white fall down, and then there were about twenty more fell over him. I could not help but laugh, although my heart was beating a great deal faster than its normal state; and whilst they were down another bang went off which made them shout worse than ever. There were English, French, Russians, and Belgians all on top of one another. Then I went outside, and there I saw a lot of men crawling underneath the bungalows out of harm’s way. But I thought they would be well away if the bungalows were to fall on top of them, as the reports shook a great deal and a great many of the windows went with the first report.

When I went back into my room, I could not help laughing when I saw the Russians bowing and making signs across their bodies. Some were right underneath their mattresses, and some with a blanket over their heads, and some hiding behind the table-top, where I had put it along the door to keep the draught off me in the night, as I slept against the door. We then heard that the ammunition factory had blown up.

II

Shortly after the explosion the Germans came back into the camp again, as the typhus had practically disappeared. But we could have very well done without them, as we had had enough of them when they were in before and we did not want the knocking about we had from them. When they came in, they were just as wild as ever. We hardly dared look round but one of them would be snarling at us. Then they started to send two Germans through the rooms, one with a dog and the other with a rifle and fixed bayonet. And, instead of keeping the dog close to him, he would allow it the whole length of the leash, so as to give it plenty of room to spring on the man nearest to it, which happened very often and the men’s clothes were torn by them. They would sometimes pounce into the room, which was practically dark with the exception of one stable lamp to light the whole room up. We would be talking amongst ourselves under this lamp, and not notice them till they were on us; then the dog would bark and spring at the one nearest to it, when there would be a scamper to the sides of the room. They would then have a good laugh at us. Sometimes the dog would break loose and several men were severely bit by them. I remember one corporal who used to come round with a dog. He used to threaten to strike us because we would not stand to attention while he passed through the room, swelling his chest as if he was the Kaiser himself. But we soon got his little swank stopped, as one of our sergeants reported him to the captain of our compound.

After the Germans had been back a few weeks, we were marched once a week to the bath-house and we would take everything belonging to us. While we were having our bath our clothes and blankets would be fumigated, which operation would last about twenty minutes after we got inside the bath. There would be from 40 to 50 go in at a time. The worst part about it was the waiting outside in the cold and sometimes in the rain. I have seen the time when we have had to wait from 8 A.M. to 11 A.M. before we could get the bath; and it once happened that after waiting from 8 A.M. till soup-time, then we had to go back and come again after soup. There was one German who would come and strike us chaps who had only got one good hand, because we could not dress and undress as quick as the other men. He was a regular terror for striking us. But by good chance an American reporter came along, and don’t forget, we told him everything: the only decent man that ever came into camp that we could tell our troubles to, and he listened to us with a good will. When he was talking to one of our fellows the German staff officers came close up to him, to listen to what they were talking about, but he soon asked them to stand back, which they did with a few black looks. The camp commandant was in a fine rage that day.

I am glad to say that the reporter’s coming did a lot of good for us, as things began to improve after the reports had been circulated as regards clothing and striking; but the soup was something horrible. The Russians, who were practically starving, could not drink it. Many a time it used to be carried to the latrine and emptied down there. Even their own pigs sometimes refused to eat it. I had from good authority that three pigs died and that they were cleaned and sent to the cookhouse to be boiled up for the camp. So we got the hint not to have any soup for two or three days.

A short time after the reporter had been, a captain of the R.A.M.C. was struck by a German; and if they will strike a captain-doctor what would they not do to us? But after that there was very little striking. It was more like the good old English style — take his name and get punished accordingly. I am pleased to say that I was never punished in that way for misbehavior, as I had had enough punishment at the beginning for being an Englishman. But I once had a very narrow escape. Early one morning a German sergeant came to rouse us out of bed. He had a shambok in his hand, so he made a rush at a couple of our men, when of course a laugh went round, and a young chap who was lying next to me (Enoch Brook) had a laugh like a donkey bellowing. When he let go, the German thought that it was me making fun at him, so he took my name. But I was very lucky and did not hear anything more about it, for I did not want tying up to the post: I had seen enough of the other poor fellows.

Early in September they came round asking what trade we were used to in England. I told him that I was a butcher. We had heard a whiff that they wanted some men for the mines. I am also used to working in a mine, but I did not tell them so. So a lot of miners changed their trade to hawkers, chimney-sweeps, clerks, and beer-testers. They came for the butchers first. I did not have to go on account of my hand being useless. They were not long before they had a lot of men going out to work on farms and in factories. After they had sent a lot of men away, they made our compound into a convalescent place and moved all that were fit into other compounds, and all those that were unfit into ours, and then every nationality were put in their own rooms, which was a lot better for us. So we used to pass the time away walking about till we were tired, and then went in and had a game of cards which were made out of cigarette packets until we got some from England.

On Saturday nights we used to have a concert in our room and the boys from the other rooms used to come and spend a pleasant night once a week. We had violins, and very good ones they were. They were made out of the parcel-boxes, and if they had been varnished, you could not tell if they had been bought out of a shop or not, they were made so perfect both in shape and the splendid music they could get out of them. These were made by some of the Russians. I never saw such a handy lot of men; they could make anything. Before I left camp, we could get anything from a button to an aeroplane, of course toy ones, all made by these Russians.

As time went on things began to be a bit pleasanter for us, as the Germans were getting quite tame. They began to see what the English were like and that they could not make them downhearted, as we were always either singing or whistling. And when we got some clothes and boots, we all would turn out with polished boots and buttons. It was quite common to see some of us as clean and as smart as if they were walking out with their best girl in England. I am sure it impressed the Germans. We all looked a lot smarter and cleaner than the Germans outside. We looked haggard and worn, but I dare say some of them wished they were in our place. We would sometimes pull their legs. About six of us would get together and pretend that we could see an aeroplane; and after they had been straining their necks for a while, looking for something that was not there, we would have a good laugh at them and shout ‘Englander.’ There were all sizes and shapes, boys and old men. I remember one old man with a gray beard who could hardly walk, as he was ruptured very bad, but he had to do his sentry-go just the same as the young ones. When we used to go and draw the parcels, about 30 or 40 men carrying 4 and 5 parcels a man, they would start teasing the sentries, and saying to them, ‘England kaput, nix packets,’ at the same time dangling the parcels they were carrying in front of them. Then the sentries would say, ‘England nix kaput, plenty packets.’ But I began to think at times that my packets were ‘kaput,’as I went a long time without getting any. I had five from the end of October to Christmas eve. But I did not go short, as the boys who were getting a lot used to give me some of theirs.

On Christmas eve we all were very busy. A very great difference from the Christmas eve before, unpacking our parcels and putting the good things into a box we kept on purpose to put on the shelf. The other chaps had got all their stuff on the shelf. Then I asked one of them to lift mine on for me, but he had no sooner put it on when the shelf broke in the middle and the whole lot came down with a crash. Of course they all blamed my box, as it had been practically empty for a long time. I would not have minded, only I could not find my tobacco after we had cleared all up again. I had to fall back on the boys for a smoke. We then had a few songs and a game of cards, with English ones this time, as we were getting all sorts of little games out from home by then. Then we all got down to sleep and dream of the plum puddings we were going to enjoy the next day.

Christmas day. We were all up in good time the next morning and wished one another a merry Christmas, and I may say that we enjoyed ourselves immensely. Some of the boys managed to get a drop of rum, and of course that livened things up a bit. My friend Lewinvited me to have my dinner with them in their room. And we had a grand feast, almost just the same as it we were at home. We had cardboard plates and plenty of food to put on them this time: tinned tongue, beef, sausages, and steaming-hot plum puddings, finished off in style with chocolates, nuts, dried fruits, cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco. Then we had a few good old Christmas carols. Every one of us was a lot happier than we were the Christmas day before, when we were starving and hungry on our way to Wittenberg. The boys that had got the rum were in a merry mood. I thought they would never stop singing. But I am pleased to say that everything passed off very well.

At last the day came to an end, and every one of us stood up and sang ‘ Britannia rules the waves,’ and finished with ‘ God Save the King.’ Then to bed we went, after the best day we had had since we were taken prisoners. I may say that it was the best day I had in Germany, except one, and that was the day I left, for that one beat them all. On New Year eve we had another good feast, and we sang the good old carols with a better heart than we did the year before, as we had some good old English packing inside us, instead of the German wind and water.

III

New Year, 1916, brought us better prospects than the old year did, but not without its disappointments. Some of us were inspected by a German doctor to be exchanged for England. Some of us passed, I for one. But as time went on and we heard nothing more about it, we gave it up as a bad job. About six or seven weeks later, an order came that those men that had passed the doctor before were to go to hospital to be examined again, so our hearts began to flutter. But not for long this time, as we were inspected by the Iron Cross hero this time, the one that came padded up when the typhus was on the go. He only passed one man out of thirty, and that poor fellow is still in Germany. They would not even let him come to Switzerland with us. This man, Private Davis of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, after being passed for England, was sent to work. He was one of a party of thirty men who were sent out to work. We called them ‘ the crippled working gang,’ as some of them had bad legs, some with bad arms, and one man with one eye. They looked more like being exchanged for England than going out to work. The Germans wanted them to work on Sundays, but they had not been used to it, so they refused. They were then sent back to Wittenberg and put in a punishment compound (No. 3 compound). They had to do all fatigues in camp and they were not allowed to receive their parcels and letters from home, but they were allowed to write. They had been like that a long time before I came away. They (the Germans) have sent better men to Switzerland than several of this unlucky working party.

A few weeks later news came that there was going to be an inspection of the sick and wounded to go to Switzerland. So every one of us had our worst look or limp on that day. After the inpection we all were on tenter-hooks wondering how we had got on. First one and then the other would be asking, ‘ What did he say to you ? ’ ‘ Do you think he passed any?’ and then would say, ‘I hope I have passed.’ But none of us knew, so of course we were unsettled for a week or two, expecting to hear who had passed and who had not. But nothing came, so we stopped packing of our bits of things, as we hardly dared look at our bags, but some one would shout, ‘ When are you going? ’ or ‘ What train are you going to catch?’

Just as we had given it up again, we had another inspection, but the same thing happened again; then another, and so on until we had ten inspections altogether before they let us go. We had been disappointed so many times that we thought they were pulling our legs, so we lost all faith in them and fell into our normal state of camp-life again, at the same time wishing them far enough. We were getting books from England now. I used to pass many a day away reading. I have read more books whilst in that camp than I read in all my life before. When I could get hold of one of Nat Gould’s I was happy, as there were always a lot of excitement in them.

The Germans had now begun to let us make little fires in the compound to boil water for our tea and warm some of our tinned meat up. Before then it was very difficult to make anything, because if you had a fire, once upon a time, a lump of lead would come whizzing past your head; but they got very kind and had a boiler brought in the compound, so we used to buy hot water from the Russians at two pfennigs a bowl full. Sometimes we would get it boiling and other times nearly cold. Then it used to spoil our tea and there would be a bit of arguing with the Russian; but it was all useless talk, as he would not know what we said to him, and we were just as wise when he talked to us, so we had to make the best of a bad job. We used to get issued a raw herring twice a week, but I could not go mine raw. A good many of them could, especially the Russians. They would go mad for them and they did not waste any either, for they would eat the head and inside as well and then look round for the heads that our fellows threw away. But of course they were starving and not getting any packets the same as we were, so there is an excuse for them. I know I would have done the same before our parcels started coming. I am sure a cat, nevermind a raw herring, would have been very acceptable at one time; but there were neither to be had at that time for me to see what they were like. I used to give my herring and also the German bread, when I had some English bread, to a Russian, and he used to wash all my clothes and mend them for me, as I was very bad at washing clothes with one good hand. But I have managed to wash them many a time and then get a chum to wring them out for me.

We used the tin biscuit boxes for a cooking range. We cut a hole in one side, just large enough for our can to rest on the edge. The boys would be very busy from 7 to 8 A.M., 11 A.M. to 1 P.M., cooking their food and making tea. We used to have tea or cocoa to every meal. Some of the boys that had no fire would hang round until there was one finished with. It used to be the old cry, ‘After you with the fire, mate,’ just the same as when we were smoking a cigarette in the hard times — ‘ Anybody after you, mate?’ Our fuel would consist of the boxes our food used to come in. Sometimes we could buy a box from the canteen for half a mark, when we had run short of our own wood. Camp-life was getting up to perfection now, as the Germans were more friendly towards us, and being able to cook our own food made everything a lot easier to bear. About the middle of April we had wooden beds come in our room. Some of the camp had them before us, as they all were made in the camp by some of the prisoners and they were issued out as they finished them, so we were able to sleep off the floor for the first time and able to keep our blankets a lot cleaner, as they used to get very dirty with always being on the floor. Being more comfortable than we had been for a long time, we forgot all about the inspections for Switzerland. I settled down to my reading and wondering how much longer the war was going to last, and how long I had to remain behind the barbed wire.

IV

On the afternoon of the 24th May, I lay on my bed reading. I was just finishing a book called The Black Tulip when I heard a German sergeant calling my name. I had been so interested in my book that I did not take any notice of him before, but when I heard my own name shouted, I was all ears then, and I was not long in making inquiries to see what he wanted. I will never forget the joy I felt when he told me to fall in, as I was going to Switzerland, so I never finished the last few lines of the book. I was so excited I forgot all about the Black Tulip. After we all had fell in, he gave us instructions as to what we were to take with us, such as correspondence, as we would be searched at Konstanz, and if they found anything about us, we would be sent back to Wittenberg again. Then he told us to pack our things up at once, as we had to go into No. 6 compound until the next day. We were not long in getting ready, and after bidding goodbye to our chums we were marched to No. 6 compound.

I did not sleep very much that night as I was so excited and longing for the next day to come. We all were up in good time the next morning, the 25th. After breakfast the Germans came to search our kit, but we took good care not to have anything that would be likely to stop us from going. After they had finished searching us and packed our things up again, we were fell in and then marched to the guard-room, where they had some wagons ready to take us to the station. When we had got nicely settled down in the wagons, we set off to the town station. My old chum Lew was the driver, so I was able to have a chat with him on our way, and waving our hands and shouting to the boys who were watching us off. At last we arrived at the station, wondering if we would be put in trucks for our journey. I would not have minded what they put us in, as long as I knew that I was leaving the country; that was the only thing that troubled me. We were told off to second-class carriages and we made ourselves comfortable for the long ride, which turned out to be thirty-six hours.

We left Wittenberg at ten past twelve mid-day. We began to feel a lot safer when the train got on the move, for I did not feel safe until then; I had been disappointed so many times I could not trust them. We had a pleasant journey right up to Konstanz. We stopped twice for food, which was the best I ever had from them. At one station they brought us mashed potatoes, cutlets and coffee, which I may say were very good. I thought at the time, what a vast difference to what I had when I went to Germany. The feeds were just as opposite as the journeys; a bad welcome and a good send-off. We arrived at Konstanz twelve midnight, the 26th, and there was a great many people up to see the English prisoners arrive. As we were being marched to the barracks, some of the people greeted us with a few jeers, but I did not mind that as I was used to their ways. There is an excuse for them as they do not know any better. When we arrived at the barracks, we were told off to rooms. There were ten of us in one little room and I slept between clean sheets for the first time for nearly two years. I may say I made good use of the bed whilst I was at Konstanz as it had a spring mattress. I never thought they would be so kind as to let us sleep on such good beds. About 10 A.M., the 27th, we were inspected by a German doctor, then we were set on the wondering system again, as we did not know who had passed and who had not. When I went in front of the doctor, he asked me if I were a volunteer. I said, ‘ No, I am a reservist.’ ‘How many years have you been a soldier?’ I told him 18 years. ‘Och! You have been a soldier a long time, but you finish now.’ So with that he let me go.

Sunday, the 28th, we felt not very bright, as we heard that a great many had failed; but we did not know who, so we passed the day away walking about, watching the German soldiers do the goose-step and the changing of the guard. Monday, the 29th, was, I am pleased to say, my last day in Germany. About twelve midday we were paraded on the barrack square and inspected by a German general. After the inspection a German sergeant had a lot of labels with numbers on, and as he called the names of those that had passed the doctor, he gave each man a label with his number on. There were some heart palpitations on the go whilst he shouted them out. I know mine beat very fast until I heard him call my name, and I took good care to answer it the first time for fear he would not call it a second time. I was taking no risk. I felt very sorry for the men that had to go back, as I can imagine what a great disappointment it was for them. I know I would rather have died than been sent back. After he had finished calling the names, he told us, who had been lucky, to get tickets. We would be going to Switzerland at 6 P.M., and those poor fellows that were not called, had to fall in at 3 P.M. to go back to Germany again. Then I went back to my room and packed my things, longing for six o’clock to come.

At 3 P.M. the unlucky party (about 120) fell in, and I must say they went back with a better heart than I should have done. Their hearts might have been sad at the disappointment, but they all had a shout for us and a merry smile on their faces, and waving their arms to us as they marched out of the barracks. We then had tea, but I wanted nothing to eat, as I was too overjoyed at the thought of leaving Germany, for food. At 6 o’clock we fell in and were marched to the station with a few more jeers from the people. I did not mind that, as I thought my turn would come soon. We arrived at the station about 7 P.M., lined up along the platform, and then were told off to our carriages, 1st class (Swiss trains). We made ourselves nice and comfortable then, wishing that the train would be quick and start before the Germans changed their minds, for I could not trust them even to the last minute.

At 8.40 P.M. the engine gave a whistle. I think the engine wanted to be out of it as well as we did, for it gave a jump and had a good speed on in no time. When it started, we all gave a good cheer and entered on the very best journey I ever had in all my life, one that I will never forget. We could see the sentries on the frontier, and before the tail end of our train had crossed the border we had a good old English flag and a Swiss one in our carriage. They were held up to the window on a long stick and we were the lucky ones to get them as we flew by.

I can safely say that we had one of the finest receptions into Switzerland as anything we’d wish to have. Right from the very edge of the frontier to our destination [Château d’Oex], I have never cheered so much before in my life. For five days after the journey I could hardly speak at all, as I had cheered myself hoarse. Flowers, chocolate, newspapers, cigarettes were coming through the windows as we were traveling along, and when we stopped at any station we was practically bombarded with flowers and every comfort we could think of. I have never seen such kindness before. We fairly trimmed the train up with flowers, inside and out as well. Our first stop for lunch was at Berne. The station was swarmed with people who had stayed up all night to see us come through; it was a struggle to get to the restaurant where we had lunch. It is only a few yards across the platform, but I had my arms full of good things. ‘Oh, do take this and this’ — they kept on piling them up. Some of them were putting things into my pockets before I got back to the carriage. I got back into the train looking more like Father Xmas just going on his visiting rounds. Some one was that anxious to give me something, they gave me an inkwell full of ink. Of course when I put my hand in my pocket I felt it wet, and when I looked at my hand, it had changed color.

Then there was a dear old lady who asked me if I wanted any clothes sent on. I thanked her very much for her kind offer and told her that I had plenty, as I did not like to impose on her generosity. ‘Oh, but you must let me send you something! I am English, you know, and I love the Tommies.’ So, after a bit of thinking what I required most, I said, ‘If you are so kind as to insist, on sending me something, you might send me a razor as I am wanting a shave very bad.’ ‘ Oh, I shall be so pleased to send you one! Is there anything else I can do for you? Are you married? Do let me send a few lines to your wife; I know she will be pleased to know that you are in Switzerland and in good hands.’ So I gave her my wife’s address as well as mine, and the dear old lady kept her promise, as I had not been at Château d’Oex long before a splendid safety-razor came, for which I shall always thank her.

Then we set off again with cheer after cheer ringing through the station. At every small station and level crossing there was a lot of people gathered together to get just a glimpse of us as we passed by, and we gave them all a cheer. Our next stop was Lausanne. We only stayed there a few minutes; some nurses brought us milk and coffee, then we were bombarded again with flowers and comforts of every kind. The trouble was, we hardly knew where to put the good things as we had got so many; then, after a few more cheers and ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary,’ we set off again to Montrémy.

When we got there we had to change trains, so we collected our presents and some of the flowers, as it was impossible to carry them all, and marched to the Hotel Suisse where we had breakfast, and we had a grand spread there. Everybody was wanting to talk to us all at once. After we had our breakfast we had a look round the hotel, which is a very fine place. Then we had tickets given to us for our journey up the mountains to Château d’Oex by electric trams. After we had had our photographs taken about a dozen times and a lot of cheering, we set off to our heaven of rest. After the pleasantest journey I ever had in all my life, we arrived in Château d’Oex feeling very tired and hoarse with shouting so much. Here the band was playing and everybody dressed in their best watching to welcome us all to this little Heaven on earth. We had lunch in the stationyard amongst a forest of flowers and flags. Every one wanted to give us a bit of something. After we had finished lunch, which was the 3rd meal in about 12 hours’ journey, we were told off to our hotels. As we walked down the streets some of the people threw flowers on us out of the bedroom windows. Almost all the windows had a flag flying, some stretched right across the street. The boy scouts carried our kitbags.

At last our journey was ended. We arrived at the Hotel Berthod and were told off to our rooms. My room was No. 59. I was surprised when I went in, to see such a lot of furniture and a nice clean white bed, all for one tired man. I was not long in settling down. I had a good bath. After tea I tested the bed, which was very soft and comfortable. I then said my prayer and thanked God and all the good people for the deliverance from Hell to Heaven.