Kiwis Dug Tunnel, Escaped From French Camp in Africa
Nov 21, 2018 23:51:46 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 21, 2018 23:51:46 GMT 12
An interesting story here from the NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 30 NOVEMBER 1942
BID FOR LIBERTY
PRISON IN AFRICA
SIX NEW ZEALANDERS
TUNNEL UNDER GROUND
(Recd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 28
Digging with two bread-knives, six New Zealanders were among the prisoners at Leghouat internment camp in French North Africa who made a tunnel 100 yards long, by which 29 made a bid for freedom. They were Squadron-Leader R. G. Brickell, of Dunedin, Flight-Lieutenants D. W. Garland, of Epsom, I. R. A. Beresford-Smith, of Eketahuna, Lieutenant B. H. Clinkard, of Wellington, R.N., Sergeant C. Belcher, of Amberley, and Able-Seaman D. Burns, of Wellington.
Squadron-Leader Brickell, an engineer before he joined the R.A.F., was "surveyor directing tunnelling operations," and he also made a spirit level from a glass tube. The idea for the tunnelling was conceived by a captain who found a cellar under his room. They divided the camp into two shifts for working parties, playing gramophone records to cover the noise when digging through a thick wall.
Slow Progress
After passing through the wall they made progress at the rate of an inch and a-half every hour and they completed the tunnel after seven months. Squadron-Leader Brickell had a map of North Africa, from which were made at least 50 copies. They soaked the paper in olive oil and let it dry out in the sun and then made a copy of the map.
Squadron-Leader Brickell also devised an electric lighting system for the tunnel and then made candles from Arab oil when the electricity was cut off.
Sergeant Belcher was one of the 29 attempting to escape, but other New Zealanders had not thought it worth while, which was proved by the fact that all were arrested within three days.
Shot Down by French
"Conditions in the camp could have been better," Sergeant Belcher told the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr. W. J. Jordan. "The New Zealanders were better off than any other prisoners, thanks to parcels received from New Zealand House."
Squadron-Leader Brickell had organised a university, at which the prisoners were studying for exams. It was operating for two months before they were released. Flight-Lieutenant Beresford-Smith had arrived at the camp after being shot down in Tunisia by a French fighter. Squadron-Leader Brickell crash-landed and Lieutenant Garland and Sergeant Belcher baled out from the same plane as a result of engine failure.
On Ill-fated Manchester
Lieutenant Clinkard was in the cruiser Manchester during the August convoy to Malta. E-boats attacked the Manchester off Cape Bon at midnight. Lieutenant Clinkard said: "We fought them off for an hour. I saw two E-boats blown up by our salvoes. Then they returned later and hit the Manchester. I got off on a Carley float at 4 a.m. and paddled ashore at 10 a.m."
The prisoners in the compound were surrounded by three rows of barbed wire, which was floodlit at night, with a sentry posted at every 50 yards. From time to time many prisoners had "barbed wire fever," which is an acute fit of wishing to be out and to do a useful job. So it was with the wildest delight that they learned the British and Americans had occupied North Africa. They were taken by lorry and train to Algiers, where they embarked for England.
BID FOR LIBERTY
PRISON IN AFRICA
SIX NEW ZEALANDERS
TUNNEL UNDER GROUND
(Recd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 28
Digging with two bread-knives, six New Zealanders were among the prisoners at Leghouat internment camp in French North Africa who made a tunnel 100 yards long, by which 29 made a bid for freedom. They were Squadron-Leader R. G. Brickell, of Dunedin, Flight-Lieutenants D. W. Garland, of Epsom, I. R. A. Beresford-Smith, of Eketahuna, Lieutenant B. H. Clinkard, of Wellington, R.N., Sergeant C. Belcher, of Amberley, and Able-Seaman D. Burns, of Wellington.
Squadron-Leader Brickell, an engineer before he joined the R.A.F., was "surveyor directing tunnelling operations," and he also made a spirit level from a glass tube. The idea for the tunnelling was conceived by a captain who found a cellar under his room. They divided the camp into two shifts for working parties, playing gramophone records to cover the noise when digging through a thick wall.
Slow Progress
After passing through the wall they made progress at the rate of an inch and a-half every hour and they completed the tunnel after seven months. Squadron-Leader Brickell had a map of North Africa, from which were made at least 50 copies. They soaked the paper in olive oil and let it dry out in the sun and then made a copy of the map.
Squadron-Leader Brickell also devised an electric lighting system for the tunnel and then made candles from Arab oil when the electricity was cut off.
Sergeant Belcher was one of the 29 attempting to escape, but other New Zealanders had not thought it worth while, which was proved by the fact that all were arrested within three days.
Shot Down by French
"Conditions in the camp could have been better," Sergeant Belcher told the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr. W. J. Jordan. "The New Zealanders were better off than any other prisoners, thanks to parcels received from New Zealand House."
Squadron-Leader Brickell had organised a university, at which the prisoners were studying for exams. It was operating for two months before they were released. Flight-Lieutenant Beresford-Smith had arrived at the camp after being shot down in Tunisia by a French fighter. Squadron-Leader Brickell crash-landed and Lieutenant Garland and Sergeant Belcher baled out from the same plane as a result of engine failure.
On Ill-fated Manchester
Lieutenant Clinkard was in the cruiser Manchester during the August convoy to Malta. E-boats attacked the Manchester off Cape Bon at midnight. Lieutenant Clinkard said: "We fought them off for an hour. I saw two E-boats blown up by our salvoes. Then they returned later and hit the Manchester. I got off on a Carley float at 4 a.m. and paddled ashore at 10 a.m."
The prisoners in the compound were surrounded by three rows of barbed wire, which was floodlit at night, with a sentry posted at every 50 yards. From time to time many prisoners had "barbed wire fever," which is an acute fit of wishing to be out and to do a useful job. So it was with the wildest delight that they learned the British and Americans had occupied North Africa. They were taken by lorry and train to Algiers, where they embarked for England.