Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Australian War Records Section is engaged in collecting material to enable a history to be written after the war. Many points at present are doubtful may be cleared up from statements by men who were taken prisoner. These statements should include the man's own personal experiences, and if any statement from hearsay is included it should be stated.

No. - 2014
Rank - Private
Name - Board H.
Platoon - 13
Coy. or Squadron - "D" Company
Battalion or Regiment - 26th Battalion

Circumstances of Capture
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(a) Date of Capture - 29th July 1916
(b) Place - Pozieres
(c) What happened before capture? - We made an attack at 12:pm on the above date. I had proceeded right up to the German wire in the second line of trenches. I and five others were cutting the wire and had cut about 10 yards, when on looking round we found that our men had retired. We then started to retire, when we came across one of our own boys lying wounded in a shell hole. He said he was Pte Fletcher of the 26th Btn. The others went on, and I stopped to prop him up on some overcoats which were lying about.

(d) Circumstances which lead to capture.
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As I was getting out of the shell hole to go back, I was wounded through the left arm and side. I crawled back into the shell hole, and after lying there for a couple of hours, I started to crawl back to our own lines but got caught in the wire, and could not unfasten myself. About 4.p.m. a German Officer and two privates came out and took me prisoner. Pte Fletcher having died during the night.

(e) Were any other prisoners seen? If so, how many?
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Whilst in St Quentin's Hospital, I met the following Prisoners Privates Dodd, Dadswell, Thorp, Stewart, Neilsen, Speechley, Badcock, Bawn, Evans, Sinclair, Crandell. Also Capt. Kennedy who afterwards dided in hospital, and Pte Smith who died at Gottigen.

(f) What happened immediately after capture?
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I was taken into the German trenches, and was well treated being taken to a Dressing Station where my wounds were dressed. I was then taken down a Communication trench to some tents, and stayed there for a night, being next day transferred to St Quentin Hospital

Account of life as a prisoner of war.
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From St. Quentin Hospital I was transferred to Gottigen on the 5th August and was transferred from there to Cassel (on 18th November) where I was boarded for transfer to Switzerland and passed on November 31st. I was transferred to Constance for final examination, which I also passed being then transferred to Rastatt and finally to Murren Switzerland. We were well treated in Germany in all ways except for food, which consisted of black bread, and in some cases raw fish and coloured water which was called tea. In Switzerland also the food was scanty and very poor quality.