| Flt. Lt. Ian William Tweddell World War II P. O. W. Diary January 12, 1917 to June 19, 1975 |
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| Now 32 km to go. People friendly, apathetic. Goons also do everything to help (most). Supper - bucket of potatoes, mashed with Klim and margarine, Spam and fried onions. Lights out spoiling what promised to be a good evening. Good rest at night in woodshed on old blankets and sawdust. Usual air activity. Heavy rain in early morning until 08:30. People exceptionally kind including 2 Unterofficers. Sunday, April 22 Hearty breakfast then into house for coffee and cake. Packed and hit the road about 09:15. Leave can of coffee as my share. Sorry to have to say "good-bye" so soon. Travelled until 17:00 in windy, showery weather. 8 km to Bad Oldesloe for lunch interrupted by rain. Benstehen, Kleiner Barnitz. 15 km. good road; last 5 over rough stony roads to barn. Loft full of damp straw. No sign of rest block. Feet very tired. Weather clearing at 17:00. 20 km. Monday, April 23 Up at 07:30 after usual noisy night. Warm in loft. 09:30 Kleiner Barnitz 3 km. to main road via Lokfeld, 19 km. from Lubeck. Rejoined column. Very good autobahn through valley of Trave. Renfeld, Ratzbeck to ______. 13:30. 50 of us in good barn overlooking Trave. Good washing. Wood party for hot water. So quiet cannot imagine front 50 miles away. Ordered to stay inside by G/C. Collected rhubarb - very good. 400 Russians passed through - 2 days from Hamburg. No nothing. Wish I could own a section of this valley. Story of lost colonel, his car, etc. Quite good. 10 km. Tuesday, April 24 Good night last night. Up about 10:00. Windy day. Only worry now is shortage of food. - 1 day's bread, 2 days other stuff. No doubt something will turn up. RAF attack on Bad Oldesloe. Many Tempests about. In a.m. parcel, tin of bread and sausage issued. New jet flying believed pranged. Bombs and firing during night. Very quiet and peaceful in moonlight before bed. Started getting tea yesterday. Kriegies on all kinds of arbeit. Dhobe, wash, etc. Slept in sun rest of day. Lovely on bank of Trave. Only 50 miles from hell. 7 bread, raisins and cream cheese, sardines, 1 coffee, tea. Still no news of move. Wednesday, April 25 Tea brew up in bed. Up 09:00. Raisins and cream, 2 brot, 1 piece sausage. Engagement between Tempest and flak train 1/4 mile away at 10:00. 8 Tempests on road above camp. Pieces flying about 11:00; 10 more on autobahn. Won can of bread. Shave. Rumor of Sargeants being shot. Up 80 and 100. Beautiful day. News that our days of barbed wire are over. Goon meat, spuds, raisins and Klim cocoa for supper. Slept downstairs after evening entertainment. Can of coffee for spuds and onions. Thursday, April 26 Dopey breakfast. Fried schnitzel, spuds, bread, coffee. Slept on hillside all morning. Cool, breezy, hazy. Lunch spuds, ____, coffee. Usual air activity but reasonably distant. Sleepy afternoon. Many swimming. One mess threw tea party for old people. Supper 1/2 bully, cheese, |