21-3-45

The main topic of all talk in Stalag is definitely food; each man discussing what he will eat and how he will prepare it; of things that he has and hasn’t eaten and how his tastes have changed. Myself, I think, I would put most of my reunion with those at home, which, God willing, I pray will not be long, for I am sure that if he has kept me safe through these terrible days of prison life and then returns me to my loved ones, that he will provide sufficiently for my wants. However this being my firm belief  I have prepared a menu on a separate piece of paper of one day’s food. Whether or not I shall be able to eat it, I leave entirely in the hands of the Lord and pray that he will keep or rather restore my health and strength sufficiently to do so. 

The Lord has been my greatest  stay ever since the day that I sat in the hospital, trembling, at Oosterbeek in Holland. I would like to write a little story of my experiences  and the ways  in which he proved himself to me. I don’t know yet whether he shall prove himself more but he has brought me through up to the present and I know that he will see me through although I pray with all my heart that I haven’t to go through anything again like what I have passed through this past six months. It started after I was wounded in the leg while in Oosterbeek in the Arnhem offensive. 

I was brought up in a Christian home with the best parents in the world and I professed faith in the Lord Jesus at the age of fourteen. I was baptised  as a believer but much to my distress I slipped away into the things of the world up till the time that I now start to speak about. Well I went to the hospital to have my leg dressed.  It wasn’t too bad and I expected to come out again straight away, however I was kept in. This was about 3pm on Friday 23rd Sept 1943. There wasn’t beds or even room to lay down on the floor as it was overcrowded and only a makeshift hospital, so that I had to sit on the stairs with dozens of others cases. Well for the rest of that day and night I sat and dozed where I was there was very little water and hardly any food we got ½ cup of tea and 2 biscuits twice in the day and I had ½ a ladle of M&V. 

And so it was, sat there on the stairs the following day in the mid afternoon with mortars and shells bursting everywhere blowing in the windows and doors, that a voice seemed to say to me, “Why not call on the Lord and ask him to take care of you”, and I did. I prayed to him for protection and guidance and immediately my shattered nerves were steadied and I was able to look at others and steady them without feeling the same. I had a new life and in the midst of all this noise and tumult I had a peace of mind unknown to me before. It was wonderful to have a joy unspeakable, and since then my Jesus has stood by me most wonderfully. I feel sure that he brought me through all this to prove to me his goodness and mercy which he has done up to the present moment of time. 

A few of the times in which he proved that he overruled for me I will put down although they may not be in the order as they happened, but I will put them down as they come to my memory . I think the first was as I was in the hospital at Apeldoorn in Holland. When being taken prisoner, my leg was very stiff and I had difficulty in walking and I prayed that God would heal and strengthen it again. Surely enough within a few days I was able to walk with hardly a limp and although the bullet is still in my leg it has never given me the slightest bit of trouble. And then on the march from Sagen, which eventually ended at Bad Orb 620 kilos away taking us 32 days, we had been on the road for 4 days. I had slept out in the open each night. This being early February it was extremely cold. Well after 4 days we were supposed to get on a train however this didn’t materialise and we had to keep marching and so it was that on the afternoon of the fifth day I asked the Lord to find us cover for our heads that night and onwards if we still had to keep going and praise the Lord’s name from then onwards we slept in barns or other buildings that would provide cover for us. And then there was one day we were resting, as we were supposed to be getting near to end of the march, but Germans were always about. I had an army service watch which I had kept all along and I had intended keeping it altogether, but through conditions on the march from lack of food  I contemplated selling it. So I asked God to overrule and the following morning one of the German sentries offered me 3 loaves of bread and 50 cigarettes for it and this was considered a fair price. Of course I accepted it and my pal and myself shared it buying bread and food with the fags and I’m sure that those there extra loaves kept us going  and able to complete the march. Then about 4 days after we were having another rest day. We had been carrying some new potatoes for two or three days and had had no chance to cook them. It was getting towards evening and I wasn’t feeling well when my pal said, if you take the spuds out and try to get them cooked I will make the bed. Well I had seen chaps hanging about all day trying the same thing so I prayed to the Lord that he would provide some means for me. So I put the spuds in a towel and went out of the barn and there was one of the girls  from the farm talking to one of the sentries and I asked her in what little German I knew if she could cook them for me. Well she spoke to the sentry she said it was alright within 25 minutes we had all the potatoes cooked and were able to sit in bed and eat them hot with a little salt. Believe me it was one of the best meals I had as a prisoner. These are only a few of the things which happened but it proves how good the Lord is to us if we will only put our trust in him and I hope my friend that after you have read this you will ponder these things in your mind. Taste of the Lord and see that he is good.

Menu for first few days leave

On the first day of my leave, God willing, this is what I have arranged to do. If possible three of us, Jack, Bill and myself, have arranged that if at all possible to get to one large station preferably in London  and go into town to some restaurant and have a good luncheon. For this I can’t set a menu as I do not know how things will be. However we intend to have a really good meal regardless of price. Should this meal take place in any other place than London or if I have to wait any length of time at Euston station I intend going to the YMCA there and have another meal which will consist of the following:

Sausage or bacon
Mash or chips
Bread butter and tea
Sweet: Fruit and custard
Or Trifle and custard
Cakes and tea

This is usually obtainable there or was six months ago. I then intend to buy 12 hot dogs. These consist of rolls split in half and a sausage put in with butter, and then buy some assorted cakes and biscuits all of which I will take on the train with me. It is then my intention to get a cup of tea and sandwiches at any station en route if at all possible. I don’t think this is too much as my train journey from London home will take about 8 hours and not having to change anywhere it doesn’t give you much chance to get anything to eat. That is the reason I mean to take so much with me from London. 

On arriving home, which will be about 6.45pm, by the way I would like to do this without them knowing that I was coming and then nothing would be prepared and I would get my usual meal  as I used to when I arrived home on leave before. After all the welcoming there would be the inevitable “You’ll be hungry” and almost at once my sister would have a cup of tea ready while she cooked something. This would consist of 2 fried eggs, 2 rashers of ham, chips and fried bread with bread, butter, jam and tea cake or pastry.  I hope that I shall be able to get the same meal as I have looked forward to it many times in the past. I think it one of the tastiest meals that I used to have.

All the time there will be plenty of talk and questions asked and answered and then time will come round for supper by which time I will have washed and cleaned up in general for supper. I should like very much to have, liver and onions with plenty of fat, tea, bread, butter biscuits and cheese. This however may not be possible as the butchers will probably be closed by the time I get home. However failing this, to replace the liver and onions would be baked salmon with white sauce. This is something I’m very fond of and have never seen it made or talked to anyone who has heard of it, however it’s a great dish. I expect this would put the time on to about 9.20pm. There would be still plenty to talk about and time would soon pass and then there would be a night cap consisting of Ovaltine or cocoa, lettuce and tomato sandwiches and assorted biscuits and so to bed and then try the menu that I have written out separately.