A Glider Pilot's Story - continued (13-14)

CHAPTER 13

I think all three of us slept for some of the time but not for very long. There was too much tension and excitement in the air although we were all outwardly calm. From time to time one or other of us would stand up and walk quietly across the room to look out of the skylight. There was nothing to see except the roofs opposite. More desultory conversation with occasional speculation by Phil and I about our prospective return to allied occupied territory with debriefing and return to UK. Such speculation was mainly indirect as though we were unwilling to tempt providence but mostly preceded by "I wonder...." In the weeks previously we had always hoped that we would eventually leave the island before or after an allied invasion but it had always seemed remote and we had been more concerned with day to day survival and had never really put our hopes into words.

The day wore on and late in the afternoon Joost arrived with two raincoats and two trilby hats. He gave us these and indicated that we should wear them over our uniforms and return to his house in the next street when it became dark enough. This was in fact what we did very soon after he left. I remember thinking as we followed Jork to the end of the street and turned the corner, "he doesn't seem to be walking but rather slinking round the corner." In may just have been fanciful imagination or the effect of the dark streets. We were welcomed by Joost and Min who had prepared some food for us. She had also prepared an attaché case for Jork in which were some spare clothes and underwear.

The tension was still there - it would soon be time to go - we didn't know where or how. We were in their hands. It would be their show to make contact with those who were to take us off - more than likely a squad of commandos; maybe Dutch commandos like Herman. Phil and I indulged in some light-hearted banter. This was our usual manner with each other but it may have been a subconscious attempt to relieve the tension. It was probably also due to the sight of each other in raincoats and trilbies. We were still wearing battle dress and our airborne smocks underneath. Phil's rifle we would leave behind.

There was a quiet knock at the door. It was Jan Ringelberg. Time to go. Between them they guided the three of us out of the town by the way we had entered but then we went in a different direction. Soon we came to a large barn which we entered quietly.

Herman was already there. So were a dozen or so more other people. Two of them were Dutch police; one of these introduced himself as van de Beek. He it was who was in charge of the arrangements. The other policeman was accompanied by his wife. We would soon be on our way, there was a hum of low excited conversation. Van de Beek was saying to us in English that it would soon be time but that we still had to wait for some others to arrive before we continued on our way to the dijk. He also explained that the password consisting of the challenge "Queen" was to be answered by "Wilhelmina".

When it was time to go we left the barn in small groups and continued to walk away from the town until we reached the dijk along the top of which ran a small concrete wall. The party spread itself on the seaward side of the dijk. Van de Beek and the other policeman went down to the water's edge and began to signal at intervals, with their lamps, alternately red and white. It was cold and dark. There was some drizzle in the air and the visibility was rather less than the previous evening.

Lying next to me on the dijk was a young man who spoke to me in English. His name was Marius de Glopper; he told me he was a medical student. He asked me if I thought that the British would let him join the R.A.F. and I remember that I replied to the effect that it was more important for him to continue with his studies but that it would probably be possible for him to enlist in the R.A.F. if that was what he really wanted. After this quiet conversation we strained our ears for the sound of a boat's engine above the noise of the waves.

We thought we had heard the sound of an aircraft some distance away. There had been some talk that an aeroplane would be flying overhead to give the Germans something to listen to. Jan Ringelberg had mentioned this when he came to Ouwerkerk. Time passed. Besides listening everyone was peering into the darkness for some sign of the long awaited boat. But there was nothing. It was long overdue and soon the tide would start to ebb, making a landing impossible in these difficult waters. Van de Beek and his colleague ended their signals and rejoined the rest. There were whispered instructions and the party began to disperse in small groups. One of these consisted of Phil, Jork, Herman, van de Beek and me. Cold and disappointed we cautiously made our way back to Zierikzee, to the house of Joost Ringelberg.

We sat around the table in the kitchen and Min gave us hot drinks. Jork was badly demoralised and angry. He banged the table and complained "Tommy nichts komen, Tommy bang (afraid)." It was difficult to argue with his first statement, the British hadn't come but I couldn't let the remark about British cowardice pass. "Tommy nichts bang" said I.

Van de Beek was still quite optimistic that perhaps another attempt could be made the next evening but he knew that there were difficulties. He left saying that he would be back in half an hour or so.

In the kitchen there was some more conversation with the Armenian continuing his complaints about the British and their non-arrival. I continued to keep my end up but it appeared that he wasn't just referring to that evening but to the fact that he had sent the British full details of the German defences on the island and that if only the British had put in an appearance it would have been easy for the Armenians to take over from the Germans. More table thumping "... bunker hier .... bunker hier .... Tommy nichts komen .... Tommy bang!" Once again I put in my two pennyworth .... and hoping that van de Beek would be able to set up another attempt, said "Tommy nichts bang .... Tommy komen!"

Van de Beek returned and also another member of the resistance group called by Joost "Cor". He had also been a guide that night but was not part of the group who were trying to leave the island. They wouldn't know until tomorrow whether another attempt could be made. Meanwhile it had been decided that I should explain to the British the danger that this group of would be escapees were in since it was now four days that they had been in hiding after the last German proclamation when all men between the ages of 17 and 40 must now report to the Germans.

We had managed to leave Zierikzee without too much difficulty and we had returned and dispersed the group. If another attempt was to be made it must succeed since it was unlikely that we could return a second time. There was also the danger that some of the local population who remained in the vicinity and worked for the Germans might have noticed some of the unusual activity after dark.

I expressed my willingness to do whatever was required of me and van de Beek, Cor and Joost, continued a discussion of the details in Dutch. Min was also included in this discussion. Finally, van de Beek explained what would happen. Herman would spend the night with him; Jork and Phil would return to the empty house where we had spent the daylight hours; I would spend that night with the Ringelbergs; tomorrow at midday Cor would come for me and I would follow him to the meeting place where I would be able to talk to the British.

So much then was settled and there was nothing more that could be done until the following day. The others left at intervals and I was left alone with Joost and Min. It seemed quite strange for it was the first time that Phil and I had been apart since taking off from Keevil some eleven and a half weeks before. It was still the 6th December and his birthday was drawing to a close without the fulfilment of those aspirations which had seemed so promising less than twenty-four hours earlier.

There were some compensations for me. I was to sleep in a bed with sheets and I was able to have a good wash before going to bed. I lay between the sheets determined to enjoy this unexpected luxury but sleep did not come quickly. So much had happened in the last couple of days, my mind was still active and two unanswerable questions buzzed around inside my head: "Why hadn't the British come for us ? What would tomorrow bring ?"

CHAPTER 14

The bed made up for me was on the ground floor at the back of the house and I had been instructed by Joost that in the event of uninvited visitors I was to cross the room below the level of the window, make my way through the wash-house and hide in the chicken coop which was in the back yard. Unwelcome visitors would be indicated by Joost calling out to the dog. At least this is what I understood him to mean though I was by no means certain since our conversation was limited in the main to my slight knowledge of German and Dutch.

Although I spent a somewhat restless night, the morning found me alert and refreshed. I washed in my room and I was also given some hot water for shaving and I took the opportunity to tidy up my side burns. Fortunately my hair was not too long since Phil and I had what the Americans called "combat crops" in late August. However it was roughly the same length all over and very untidy. We ate a simple breakfast consisting I think of porridge and black coffee surrogaat. During the morning Joost produced a dark suit which was quite a reasonable fit. We were of similar build though I am slightly shorter. I also tried on his tweed overcoat and this too seemed to be OK The shoes were at least a size too big but by using an extra pair of thick socks and having the laces as tight as possible they presented no problem. A clean shirt, tie, scarf and hat, completed the rig-out and after trying on everything I returned to my uniform since my guide was not due for about two hours.

During the morning Joost and I chatted while Min busied herself with her household chores, pausing occasionally to join in and on at least one occasion to provide a cup of black coffee. I am unable to recall everything we talked about but I remember that our communication improved considerably - it had to, there was no one to interpret for us. At one stage we compared the population of the Netherlands with that of London; at that time they were not dissimilar. Joost also told me of some of the efforts of the locals when trying to score over their German occupiers without having to suffer any punitive consequences. At one time a favourite occupation had been to whistle and call "Hess! Hess!" after members of the Wehrmacht. When they were taken to task, they would blandly and politely explain that their dog was called Hess and "Hess is gone!".

Soon it was time for me to dress up in readiness for my little walk. This I did and Cor arrived. Making sure that I understood that I was to give him a start before I followed, we went out through the back yard into the garden. We then climbed over the fence to a small passage which separated the garden from the church. Cor set off and I followed.

Although aware of the need to keep my distance I was anxious not to lose him. At one corner a man came around on a bike and as he came towards me startled me by calling out a greeting. I nodded and mumbled as he rode by. At another corner we passed two men in conversation. One of these wore a dark overcoat with an astrakhan collar. On his head was a black homburg and under his arm he carried a briefcase. As I passed in pursuit of Cor, it seemed to me that he gave me a piercing scrutiny.

Some distance ahead of me, Cor had stopped, opened a gate leading into a back garden, and then stood to await my arrival. Inside the back garden was what appeared to be an electrical transformer and standing next to it was another Dutchman who shook hands and then led the way into the house. Passing through a storeroom we came to a staircase which ascended in a square stairwell. Waiting for me at the top of the stairs was a smart looking man who wore horn- rimmed spectacles.

He greeted me and escorted me into a large room which was at the front of the building. It was a living room on the far side of which was a bay window. This part of the room was the dining area and seated at the table, looking out of the window was a lady who was introduced to me as his wife. Coming across the room to greet me she offered me a cup of tea which I accepted. Looking out of the window I saw that it looked out across what appeared to be the town square.

There was a little time before my host was to make his contact. Arriving soon after I did was the man from the street in the astrakhan collar. I was introduced to him and he too was offered a cup of tea. We chatted for a few moments and I indulged myself momentarily by picking up a cue and striking a ball on the small billiard table which was there.

Then, with his wife by the window, astrakhan collar and myself standing by the billiard table, my host opened a cupboard and took from it a telephone. He then sat in his arm chair and plugged in the cable to a socket on the skirting board. "Oranje, Oranje, Oranje ...."

After this obvious identification, there followed a rapid conversation in Dutch which to me was completely unintelligible for the most part except towards the end except to wards the end when I think he referred to ".... heb ik hier de Engelsman." A few moments later he handed me the instrument. "Staff Sergeant Black speaking." "Brigade Major here" came the reply in the first English voice other than Phil's that I had heard for nearly three months. "What happened last night ?" I asked.

I cannot recall exactly the words of the conversation which followed but his reply was to the effect that they had not seen our signal; that they had not been able to come close enough because the boat they had wanted to use had not been serviceable. My response to this was one of surprise that we had not been seen as we had been flashing our signal for nearly three-quarters of an hour. I was assured that they would make another attempt that evening half an hour later because of the tide.

At this stage I pointed out the dangers to the group who were in hiding and waiting to be taken off. I emphasised the difficulties in assembling them and bringing them to the rendezvous. They had been successfully concealed after the previous night's failure but they now had to repeat the performance of making their way after dark past German posts out of town and along the road to the dike. Once there they would be exposed to waiting once again for a boat to respond to the signal.

I expressed my concern, that while we hoped to make the second attempt that evening, a third attempt would prove impossible from our end. The Brigade Major assured me that they would make their best efforts to pick us up and passed me on to "the Commando Officer in charge of the operation." Our discussion centred round the problem of sending light signals which could be seen by the British and yet remain unobserved by any watching Germans.

I recall that the Commando advised that the light should be shielded "by some tubular object like a mortar bomb case." After further assurances that they would do all they could to pick us up, I handed the telephone back to the Dutchman who rapidly concluded the proceedings and rang off. A few moments later he returned saying it was time for me to go. He and his wife wished me luck and shook hands as I left them, descending the stairs to where Cor was waiting to guide me back to the Ringelbergs. Pausing by the gate to make sure the coast was clear we travelled as before the same route in reverse and reached the Ringelbergs without incident.

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