252128 Bmbdr. Edward Manaton Farrier British Army Royal Artillery from:Swinton S. Yorkshire I was lucky to get away from Dunkirk, but unlucky when I became a Prisoner of War in Greece, 1914.
In the first seven weeks of captivity I was put in a camp at Corinth. and it was not long before I got body lice, and got dizzy spells when I stood up from hunger.
Himmler once came to look at us and I remember that one man next to me had a large Union Jack tattooed on his chest. As Himmler went by some of the German officers spat on this man's chest.
After seven weeks we were sent to Austria. but we had to walk for the first 20 miles. I had no boots. because a German Officer had confiscated them beforehand, so someone gave me a pair of gaiters which I wrapped around my feet. I managed to walk the 20 miles even though my feet were blistered and bleeding.
We then had to get in some railway cattle trucks. I was so stiff I could not get in an Australian had to lift me in.
Each truck was loaded with fifty two men, and each man was given one loaf of bread, and this loaf of bread had to last them five days. We were given a drink of water after thirty two hours and were allowed out onto the railway bank to attend to nature.
In Austria, at Stalag XVIIIA (18A), Wolfsburg. we were interviewed on what work we did in England. Many men said they were clerks, but I said I was a horse trainer, but we all finished up with long handled shovels.
Before we got Red Cross parcels we were always hungry.
After being a prisoner of war for four years and one month I was freed by the Eight Army and flown back to England.
My feet and legs still trouble me at times. but when 1 think how the P.O.Ws were treated in Burma. I say to myself, Lucky Me.
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