| Robert Hodgson World War II P. O. W. Diary |
| Feb. 2, 1945 Packed - moved down to station. No train available, back to camp issued 2 Red Cross parcels, moved down to train - loaded into small carriage built to accomodate 30. Our numbers were 51, took quite a few cigarettes with me including plenty of grub. 5:30 rolled out of Sagan arrived at Stalag IIIA Luckenwalde on Feb. 5, 1945 at around 5 o'clock. Transport provided for 31 and luggage, luckily I received transport as I was unable to put on my boot due to foot swelling. Arrived in camp around 8 p. m. hung around waiting for "all clear" taken to "delousing" a three hour process, put in hospital. 2:30 a. m., foot dressed. Feb. 6, 1945 Arose noon, put in barracks with a number of Irish Guardsmen and Irishmen from other branches of services, very good fellows. Feb. 7, 1945 Roll call 7:30 in morning. Rations 1/3 loaf bread, 1/10 block marge, soup and tablespoon of sugar per day. Feb. 8, 1945 Remainder of men from Luft 7 arrived, horrible sight, haggard, worn out men, collection of cigarettes from 51 of us gathered up enough for 1 piece approx. 1500 men. Everyone you knew at the camp you some how had to see that they were given a fag. Hunting for our rear gunner. Unable to run across him, but found out our mid upper was over in officers compound had quite a chat. He had heard our skipper had escaped from the kite but unfortunately lost his right arm and left leg - very depressing news to hear that Wes had been so unfortunate. Feb. 9, 1945 Met Joe (rear gunner) arranged for him to move in barrack I'm in, to share what I had brought from Sagan. Up to Feb. 22, 1945 Nothing unusual occurring. Night raids by R. A. F. on Berlin. Outbreak of thieving during light off in raid. Doing absolutely nothing but existing, building castles in the air for my future life. Feb. 23, 1945 Twenty-two today, amazing the way I feel such an old man, and the way my life seems to be wasted here. Another forty-eight years I'll be eligible for old age pension, doesn't seem long. |
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