Indeterminate Sentence by Allan Handyside

Author:Allan Handyside [Handyside, Allan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian pacificsm, Conscientious Objectors, New Zealand, Rangipo Prison, World War II, Methodist Church
Publisher: Philip Garside
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Hautu to Wanganui escape route, February 1944. From a sketch map by the author.

At 5pm they left the Detention Camp area and headed for the Tongariro River to see if it could be swum across at any point. If not, the only alternative was to cross the main road bridge if it was unguarded, then press on to Taupo. Some watercress eased their hunger, then a turnip patch was a welcome find. Unable to swim the river at any place, they followed it towards the bridge. Gaining some high ground from which they had a direct view of the bridge and Turangi township, they watched for two hours that Thursday evening for any sign of a guard. As one light after another went out in the township, it neared midnight, so they dropped to the road and hid close to the bridge for a further quarter-hour before crossing. The bridge was guarded, but the guard walked up the road at times, so they had grasped a suitable opportunity to cross undetected. Soon they were worried about a dog barking, so made a detour into scrub to avoid possible trouble. Tramping along the road for some miles, all went well until a car suddenly appeared. They dived for the scrub again, but not before being seen. A search immediately began. The fugitives took off their boots to avoid unnecessary noise and eventually evaded the search party. It was puzzling and alarming that after a week, the round-the-clock search had not ceased.

To continue toward Taupo seemed unwise, so the trio headed back toward the Desert Road. The Tongariro River bridge was unguarded, but the occasional car sent them scurrying into the wayside scrub. Eventually they arrived at the junction of National Park and Desert Roads. A few miles along the Desert Road, dead tired and with blistered feet, they hid in the scrub. It was early Saturday morning, 19 February. That day they traveled until they were very weary. Well off the road they were fortunate to find a deserted camp that was used at times for military maneuvers. Here they tried to make themselves at home for another night, but the cold made sound sleep impossible. A decision was made to try sleeping by day in the scrub to benefit from the warm sun and to follow the road by night.

On Saturday they rested. After a meal of rice and vegetable stew they set off again at sunset. The old Desert Road was followed as much as possible to avoid cars, but it frequently rejoined the new highway. All went well for several hours till they were suddenly accosted by a camp patrolman as they approached a bridge. It seemed that after so many frustrating days their escape efforts had come to an end. The patrolman informed them that the road had been watched constantly since their breakaway. He was quite polite and asked them to wait for a truck which would soon arrive, saying that it was no use their trying to get away as the road was guarded further along.

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