Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Prisoners of War, 1914-1919

Gallipoli veteran Pte. William Ewart [EUART]Evans, 16th Battalion Australian Infantry, who had been taken prisoner at Bullecourt in April 1917, was released on 6th December 1918. He described his experiences shortly after returning to Australia.

“Up to the Bullecourt stunt we always took our objectives under the protection of a severe barrage, but in this case, tanks were sent forward to break through, and then traverse the wire entanglements. The infantry had to follow up on receipt of the 'all clear signal' from the tanks. One tank on the left of my sector got through and traversed its portion, and showed the signal, 'all clear.' It was pitch dark, but we all moved forward. The tank which had to work specially for our company, had not readied the entanglement when we started. In fact we caught up to it, and had to wait whilst it went through the wire; but instead of traversing along the line and breaking the wall of wire down, it went forward, and we had to try. to force our way through the narrow gap it had made. The Germans soon found this out, and we got it hot. To try to move forward meant death, and the danger was just the same if we retired. I felt that I was shot, and went plump into a shell-hole, where two other wounded men lay. They were both worse than I was, and I did I what I could for them. We waited for a chance to get out, and go back to our lines, but there was no chance for that. Our lads fought to their last bomb and cartridge, and shortly after the Germans swarmed over and gathered us up.

“We were not taken to Germany, but kept for a fortnight behind the lines, and then sent, to Fort McDonald, in Lille. My wound was painful, but the bullet had passed clean through the fleshy part of the thigh. I reported for medical treatment, but this was refused, and even water to bathe the wound was not allowed me. The wound closed, and then broke out again three times before it finally healed and I have only my healthy constitution I to thank for my recovery. When we were taken to Fort McDonald, our robust appearance was too much for the Germans, and they broke us down scientifically. One hundred and twenty of us were put into a room with a stone floor, and when we lay down round the room, shoulder to shoulder, we filled the building, except for one small corner where a half-cask was standing. This receptacle had to do for all purposes, and we were not permitted outside for three days. We received each day a slice of black bread about one inch in thickness, and during the day each man received two drinks of a mixture made by pouring hot water on baked oats or wheat. Nothing else was given and at the end of three days we turned out into a yard, round which we were marched, and as each man fell out — too weak to go on — he was marked down for work behind the lines. The stronger men were then taken back to undergo a further starvation course, until they, too, were in a fit state to be taken into the danger zone, and put to work on filling up shell-holes, etc. Many prisoners were killed by the British fire, and by aeroplanes.

“After three months of this work in Douai, I with others, was sent to Orches, about three miles from the Belgian border, on the French side. Here we had to clear out a huge pottery work in preparation for German reinforcements. From there we were taken to St. Salve, near Valenciennes, and worked there seven months, during which time we were engaged in demolishing the splendid machinery used by the French in weaving and lace working. At Douai we had to work making trenches, dugouts and fortifications, all in the danger zone. After being seven months in the St. Salve district a retiring movement on the part of the Germans was noticeable, and we were suddenly shifted right across to Snidermill on the Russian frontier, and then brought across Germany again to Alterdam, close to the Kiel Canal, where we remained until released. During the whole of the time when working behind the lines in France our food was terribly scanty, and the Red Cross supplies were not allowed us, but when we got into Germany we received Red Cross rations and without them very few of us would have pulled through. The Germans are practical in everything they do. If any of the prisoners gave trouble they were sent to the chemical works, and a very short period was sufficient to either kill or permanently ruin the strongest of constitutions. Another punishment was the coal-mines. In days to come the skeletons in the mines will give some idea of the number of prisoners who went down and did not return to the surface.

“The reason for not getting Red Cross supplies is simply explained. Officially we were in a laager in Germany; our letters had to be headed Limburg, in Germany, and replies were sent to Limburg, in Germany, and yet all the time we were in France helping the Germans — of course I need not say against our will. Our work in Germany was not so bad, but it was continuous, and we were only able to carry on by receiving food from the Red Cross. When the “'flu” visited our camp the only medical comfort was liquorice water. Fortunately every man recovered, although all were attacked. In other prisons and in the German towns large numbers died.

“From my experience the German is naturally brutal. They are brutal to one another. The private soldier is never safe from corporal punishment at the hands of his sergeant or officer. The men take their punishment without a murmur; and, mind, the officer will punch a man severely in the face, or the sergeant will use the butt of his rifle on the unfortunate private at the slightest provocation. One can understand how the prisoners sometimes fared. Yet when we were about to be released the sergeant in charge of us reminded us to always speak of him as being a kind “under officer” to the prisoners. He knew, although we did not know, that released prisoners had to give information against any Germans who had ill-treated them in captivity.

“On December 6 we were handed over to the British authorities, free men once more, and we bade good-bye to soup made from rotten flesh or, for a change, from rotten vegetables. During the five days travelling until we arrived amongst our friends in England, we received every kindness; and I could not help noting the following peculiarity. The Imperial Government supplied each man with a bottle of beer at each meal, and a good stiff nobbler each night, and when we landed at Albany we found that we were not allowed to buy a bottle of beer, let alone be supplied with one.” [1]

[1] 'Kalgoorlie Miner' (Western Australia), 29th April 1919.