Jack Collins P.O.W.life 1940-45 part 4 (Stalag XXB)

PART 4 Jack Collins P.O.W. Life 1940-45
1stJanuary 1943- Day off. Football match and boxing then concert at night.
5th January — Cann’t buy potatoes or bread non in camp.
6th January All sugar factory men are coming in now seeing lots of lads I know.
13th January — Frankie in with us now.
21st January — Sold pullover for 2 loaves of bread.
27th January - Picked with another to work at Kielau left Dave behind. Good billets food only moderate.
1st February — Worked 7am-2pm no dinner went on strike waiting to see what happens.
7th February — No lights at night main fuse gone.
12th February - letters up and 3 Christmas cards.
14th February — Very windy received 170 cigarettes from POWRA.
17th February — Went to investigate lack of Red Cross parcels. Roof blew off billet.
18th February — Red Cross parcels definitely coming to-morrow.Charlie got 16 pudding for cigarettes.
23rd February — Long walk to station billeted with civies and Russian girls.
24th February- Billet finished moved back again , roof caught fire
Put it out quickly.
4th March — bought plenty of loaves to-day.
6th March — Whist drive in the evening won Brilliantine.
13th March- Air raid alarm.
16th March — Parcels up none for me
20th March — Won again at Whist 3rd prize 20 cigarettes
27th March — Charlie received American parcel 2nd in 2 days.
11th April - King and Fulton came and read out rules etc. Field service.
30th April - Had row on the job and finished at 11am.
1st May — Day off May Day.
18th May — Arranged to escape with Van and Charlie.
19th May — Day off going away to-morrow must alter our escape plans now.
20th May — Went to Bishopberg stayed for 3 hours then onto farm at Zuchau.
21st May — Sent letter to Kielau other 11 blokes on the farm here.
27th May — Parcels issued — dung spreading — received reply from Van.
28th May — Got maps etc.
9th June — My birthday Letter from Van Saturday is the day .
10th June —Writing these 3 days ahead as I am giving it to Gus.
11th June — Hope nothing happens.
12th June — To day is the day - Mothers birthday.
13th June — Postponed until next Saturday.
14th June - Whit Monday Letter from home Gwen ill with Diphtheria.
15th — June Guard nattering all day will have something to crib about on Saturday.
19th June — Raining heavily - so put off until to-morrow.
20th June — Left at 11.30pm got out through window travelled until 3am and sheltered in thicket or so we thought - it was actually a small forest and all trees were planted in rows so we had to keep low.
21st June — Very hot and thirsty,had to wait until evening.
22nd June — Travelled at night through wood did about 20k,walked through towns without being stopped. Camped by a stream.
23rd June — Arrived at the other end of Gotenhaben, walked right through to Keilau, passed police, soldiers, sailors not stopped.
24th June — In wood all day got food again caught by German corporal at 3am he had been a guard at the camp we had just left and so recognised us immediately.
25th June — Slept at Keilau in camp then onto Bunker in Bishopberg.
26th June — Statement taken this morning.Bert, Smudge , Gordon and Ging. Left bunker to-day about 10am after 2 weeks.
27th June — No charge yet. Getting soup ¼ loaf , butter and sausage.
29th June — Started reading ‘ Gone With The Wind.’
1st July - Finished reading Gone With The Wind — very sad story.
2nd July— Van and Willie came in they have got 21 days.
3rd July — New under officer here — cann’t talk or do anything now.
4th July — Charge came through got 21 days out on17th July.Soup every 3 days and ½ loaf at night . Managed to smuggle in book. All cells searched but managed to keep book.
7th July — Roll on the se days it is terrible in here.
9th July — Out working felt very weak.
13th July- Got load of bread from some French prisoners who were finished their time in the bunker, don’t know how they got the bread but we were glad of it.
14th july — Moved into Lofty’s cell for the night.
17th July — Arrived back at Zuckau. 4 back parcels waiting
19th July — Felt sick during the night, ill all day.
23rd July — Little guard is a good bloke.
24th July — Charlie on cook house — Jimmy has bad hand.
26th July — Swimming in lake at Vespa,Horrible guard is back.
27th July — Musolini has been thrown out of government.
1st August — Swimming all afternoon.
6th August — loading straw found 8 eggs hidden in straw.
17th August — Sicily capitulated.
18th August — Lofty got his clothing parcel.
21st August — Weather red hot.
26th August - letters up but none for me.
29th August — Wrote and asked Gwen to become engaged.
8th September — Italy capitulated according to newspaper report.
German troops still fighting in Italy.
18th September — broke glasses threshing.
20th September — Had party for Tip and Bill, Charlie did very well catering.
21st September - Went to cart house then to Danzig to get new frames for glasses .
25th September —Jimmy and Geoff’s 24th birthday party. Good time.
2nd October — Got boils on back of neck.
9th October — bombing raid over Gottenhaben,
11th October - Lot of damage done at Gottenhaben.
13th October — 2000 dead after air raid at Gottenhaben.
20th October - More boils on back.
4thNovember — Letters up one from mam congratulating us on engagement.
11th November — New guard arrived seems ok.
14th November — boils are at last clearing.
15th November — first fall of snow.
16th November — Started cementing bathroom with Dick.
20th November — Still waiting for cement to arrive.
23rd November — Finished cementing bathroom.
1st December — Now on shorter working hours.
22nd December — Started decorating billets .
23rd December — Put up Christmas tree.
24th December — Sang carols around tree , dancing etc, got drunk.
25th December — Got drunk at night.
31st December — New Years Eve Service at 5pm —dancing-bells at midnight.

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