With Recce at Arnhem: The Recollections of Trooper Des Evans - A 1st Airborne Division Veteran by Mike Gallagher

Author:Mike Gallagher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / Aviation
ISBN: 9781473869165
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2015-09-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Destination Germany

I believe the train came to us, rather than us being marched to the train. There was certainly not much distance to cover before we were pushed – none too gently – into goods wagons of the type that were intended to hold eight horses or forty men. There were more than forty men in the one I boarded. More than fifty I believe. A bucket was supplied for toilet requirements, no food, and no water, nothing else. The door was slid shut. We heard the catch being fastened outside and found ourselves in almost total blackness. It took us some time to get accustomed to the darkness during which most of us tried to lay claim to space on the floor. When the slower ones realized what was happening and attempted to do the same, it quickly became obvious that there was not nearly enough room for us all to lie down at the same time.

Disputes began as to who was to have which space but were quickly resolved by a very large American who threatened to bang together the heads of any two who quarrelled over such an issue. ‘We are there to fight the goddam Germans,’ he averred, ‘not each other’. Common sense prevailed and we worked out a rota system that allowed some of us to lie down at full stretch whilst the remainder exercised. There was no way we could know just how long we would be kept locked nor how long the journey was to last. It was vital that we travelled in as friendly an atmosphere as possible. With all the shunting and banging going on outside it became obvious that quite a long train of prisoners was being made up. Someone raised the question, ‘have these trucks been marked with a red cross?’ It was a moot point. No one knew nor had we any way of finding the answer.

The train remained stationary the best part of that day and into the night, then with dawn breaking a loud clanking and clanging of buffers heralded our departure. A couple of the more enterprising characters in our truck had by this time prised loose some of the slats from the ventilator, making it possible for us to see the countryside through which we were passing. Slowly at first then faster and faster we began our journey towards the ‘Fatherland’.

There was a rending and splintering of wood as two Paras tore up some of the floorboards. ‘Be easier to escape while we are still in Holland’, one of them declared, and the other added, ‘we’ll go tonight, anyone who wants to follow us is welcome to do so, but give us ten minutes start!’

Every minute and every mile brought us nearer to Germany. It was a bright sunny day and we had occasional glimpses of German army units; lined up or moving along the roads.

One of these enemy columns seemed to be comprised almost totally of anti-aircraft guns and while we were passing it they were preparing to go into action.

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