My Grandfather, H.K. (Ken) Wood WX2453 2/11th Bn AIF (POW number 24218) was captured on Crete in 1941 and was a POW for the remainder of the war.
This diary entry with describes an escape he made from Ratibor with several others.
Leaving for work party Ratibor "138". 3 to a parcel. Working in steel factory. First morning had to get up 3-30; given a cup of coffee and bread. Not a bad ration. Work 10 hours. March 4 kilos to and from work through snow and ice. Billeted in Guest house dance hall. Party 100 strong. Food slowly getting worse. 4 to a loaf, 1500 kg 1 bowl of soup - 24hours. 17 hours a day on your feet, the days are cracking up fast. No Red Cross parcels, everybody dissatisfied, getting swindled on everything.
S17 hasn’t much idea of running a party dolmetcher is a yes man with Perrie fights galore received a small bulk issue 1/3rd milk ½ jam butter bulky cheese, fruit, meat extract. Things getting worse 5 to a loaf, soup like water; no swede or cabbage, just potato water. A crook party all round. Decide to have a strike. The mob is very divided. The same ones have to battle for everything. 30 of us decide not to work till we get more food. One Tommy lad got beat up for refusing to work. Have been promised more food but have been fed on promises so are not taking much notice. All working parties in district strike. Food problem bad. Have decided to escape. One of the boys had a casting fall on his leg - smashed it badly. Seven of us escaping 19th May.
Received Mum’s first letter (unknown) on the 25 – Thinking of escaping. Tuesday 19th May. Going through to night, direction S.W. to W. Everything went ok. Left 11.30, made 13 kilo’s over ploughed fields. Heavy rain. Laying up for the day. Think we have been seen. Splitting up into three parties; 1 - Harry & Bic. 2 – Buster, Andy & Phil. 3 - Mick and Myself.
WED: Made about 10 miles this is (unknown). Dug up some seed potatoes. They are all we have to eat. Came on to rain and we are very wet. Have lit a fire to cook our potatoes and dry our clothes.
FRIDAY: Decided to stay all night. Both very tired and wet. Dawn broke very dull - looks like more rain. Decided to move on. This wood we are in runs for about 2 ½ miles. Move it on up near a signal tower. Found a good leafy dale. On searching for water came across some venison. Could see something furry sleeping in the sun, thought we had a rabbit, crept up and hit it with our water bottle. It proved to be a young buck venison not more than a month old. We certainly are in luck. Last night we stumbled on a game keeper’s cabin which we slept in and today we have meat. Made a stew with potatoes. It’s the sweetest piece of meat I’ve eaten in years. Both rested well. Are ready for another nights travel.
SAT 23: Had a hard nights travel with plenty of experiences. Set off rather early and ran slap bang into a village. Standing on the main highway when a number of bikes came along. All were very curious about us so layed in the crop till we were sure no alarm had been given. Proceeded on making good time till night had fallen when we came to a big town. This I think is "Troppau" which we had to skirt. On doing so ran into a blind alley, finished up in somebody’s back yard amid dogs and people walking within hands length of us. Finally got safely out of it and out of town. Came till morning found ourselves miles from any cover - only course to continue on. Came to a very big town which seems to be spread all over the country. Now fully daylight but have to go on. To add to our troubles we find we have to cross the river Oder. Now the game is on. Have adopted the bold course - going to cross over on the main highway bridge. Passing people everywhere but look like getting safely away. Am that weary can hardly drag myself along. Have been going 11 hours, must have covered about 20 miles however reached a thicket, cooked the last of our meat with some potatoes and young lettuce boiled up like silver beet. Layed down to sleep only to be awakened by heavy rain so I’m just as wet as ever. Have broken into a hut for shelter.
SUNDAY: Travelled easy last night feet very sore from yesterday. Am dreading the nights - it’s so bitterly cold now we are up in the ranges. We lay down on wet ground and shiver. We had a number of scores lately. Yesterday the village police man passed with in 5 yards of us. Today a lady and two young chaps caught us napping but we seem to have got away. Are now 11 kilo out of Troppau. Nice sunny day. Stripped off in a creek, had the first wash we’ve had since Tuesday.
MONDAY 25 May: Yesterday must have been our lucky day. On moving off down the road, came to a lone house. After talking it over, and as it was raining hard, decided to go in and take a chance, and we were lucky. They were an all Check family - could hardly talk any German. They told us if they had been alone we could have stayed the night but they had some German practitioner staying with them. We offered a cake of soap for bread. The young lady did not want to take the soap. After giving us a big can of milk each, two cakes, half a cake loaf and a third of a loaf of round bread and a tin of salt, so we left them not before we were seen and called on to halt. But the lady ran after us telling us to run. The rain has eased off to a drizzle. Found an old shelter of pines on the edge of the forest. Stayed there till about three in the morning. The good people also gave us information about our direction so set off. After covering about 5 kilos, took the wrong turning for about 3 kilos so had to about turn.
Pulled up half way back. Feet very sore. Spent a fair day only to be disturbed by six kids who seemed very curious about us, so have moved off rather early but have plenty of forest cover. Have our objective in sight. Going like hell. Have a string of houses to get through but think we’ll make it ok. Have got through but have been seen by some very curious people. Resting in a copse, after making about 8 kilos, heard noises in the gully. On looking around find we are surrounded by drawn bayonets and revolvers. It looks as if the game is up. There’s five of them closing in on us. It’s quite humorous - I don’t think they’ve ever captured any one before. I’m sure the old boy in the police uniform couldn’t hit the side of a barn. After being thoroughly searched and the discovery being made that we were only Englanders and not invading troops, we’re marched back to the village and put in the local lock-up. Our cell is wet, of floor and smells of stinking straw our bed consists of two pine top tables two sack of straw for pillows no blankets it’s a stone building which will be very cold come early morning ***** being locked up for a while and officer came along who seemed very amused at our trying to escape he seemed very decent type who asked us what had become of the thirteen others who had escaped asked us if we had eaten is apparently trying to get us some food about twelve o’clock he awakened us with some bread
Tues 26 May Slept very cold had two rather thick slices of bread spread with pork fat and two cakes, coffee passed through the window at us representing our breakfast very nice to. Slept off till eleven o’clock half past twelve a large slice of sort a backed meal came through the window posterns handed in our shaving gear and some water so had a clean up also gave us a cigarette each to day so are now awaiting the posterns
27 May
still in the local jail the local inhabitants have quite an interest in us one person gave us two cigarettes another two cigars a frauline gave us some sweets by this time were getting very cold and quite hungry but I think some food is on the way. Have had a good meal comprising of a large bowl of very good soup two slices of bread followed by a plate of fried vegetables followed by a piece of baked rice pudding which in itself was lovely this was accompanied by two cigars. Slept rather well, this morning Wednesday 27th, had a large mug coffee good coffee too milk and sugar with two slices of bread lunch consisted of chicken broth and on occasion followed by potato gravy of roast pork & onions with two slices of bread. Postern has arrived morning 5-30 tomorrow have been entertained by the local girls choir this afternoon we certainly are a popular pair of prisoners three young fellows walked by and slid us a packet of cigarettes & a box of matches.
26-May 42
Sumary of escape from Ratibor
Firstly have no regret at anything that has happened had we left it till later we would not have been caught. On leaving Ratibor large our direction was S.W. to W on coming to a large town one nights travel fromTrappau changed course to due S. on leaving Trappau hit main highway friendly people helped us on our way the nights bitterly cold ground very wet still travelling south have been living on potatoes which were dug from the ground always looking for these which had been newly planted had some of my lettuce and greens killed a young deer. Have been surprised by several people but have managed to get away ok. It’s been a good trip. I’m sure with a little more knowledge of the country and landscape we could get clear away.
Captured at the town of "Tym" *
A lad passing on a bike threw in a packet this was followed by another and when tea arrived, in a packet & another two packets making a total of 50 in half an hour tea consisted of two mugs of milk a large bowl of potato and fried onions and bread on returning for the bowl the fraun asked us if we’d like some more milk on bringing it she also brought a parcel containing four eggs and four slices of bread for the morning.
28 May Thursday
Left Tryn 5-30 marched down to Tulneck* to station for Lamsdorf struck a very good postern had a three hour wait at Jagandorf* postern took us to Red Cross centre where we had a bowl of soup bread and orange drink picked up some other escapees four arrived in Lamsdorf given bulk issue biscuit jam & sugar new issue of clothing sent to strafe barracks awaiting sentence received a parcel to 2 men this is the life sleep and eat your 14 days detention less 3 days for being in civy jail. 3 weeks in strafe Barrack very browned off have chance of going out to work and coming back to do our sentence so have put name down if job is no good we’ll come back again.
20th 6-42. left Lamsdorf working party E211 arrive of Triebiz* railway job and a good one surroundings are good work easy midday soup & potato evening meal meat gravy greens ie lettuce soup potatoes. A 420gm bread day ½ lb butter week jam & sugar sausage gerkin supp powder this party is well run plenty of amusement such as ***** tournament boxing football intend leaving in about three weeks on ***** west* last ***** was not discovered missing till the Tuesday have managed to get some civil clothes same theory ***** have sent Bic and my numbers out have found out about the clothes one of our own have put our weight up some low dog wearing a british uniform. We have been brought before an officer made a statement he wanted us to give our promise not to escape we told him to go jump in the lake we’d escape when ever the opportunity came so we are on our back to Lamsdorf tavelled to --- arrived here 2-7-42 gear bulk issue Thursday night half from parcel Friday - --- -- 14 days in der bunker at last 14 days to do 24-7-42 One of our boys arrived in dressed as a girl (memo 7 girls) legless ---- has again Vic --- we have eight R. Cross issues to collect when we get out and will we need it this bread and water is not so good. Out at last.
Escape party Ratibor
- Buster Holford
- Andy Anderson
- Sam Bickley
- Crafty Williams
- John Johnson
- Mick Burke
- Ken Wood
Our family has a few photographs, POW tags and other memorabilia he kept from the war, including diaries.
Also, you have a photo of Sgt Joseph Desmond Beard former 2/11th AIF. You may be interested to know that I recently met and spoke with Des and his wife who are well and living here in Perth.
