Virtual
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Australia

Digger Escapes from the Germans

Pte. J. C. Simcoe of Yeoval, arrived home again recently after most amazing series of adventures in the Middle East. After taking part in the campaigne in Greece, Pte. Simcoe landed in Crete about the end of April. 1941. He was in the thick of the fighting and with some, comrades was eventually cut off and captured. They only remained prisoners for days, however. managing to escape and taking refuge with the greek inhabitants, who hid all the Australians and New Zealanders they could, although it meant death if they were found out. Pte. Simcoe cannot speak too highly of the greek people, who, he says, are the first and most hospitable people on earth. They shared their last crusts with the Anzacs and practically starved together. The Germans had stripped the island of foodstuffs and there was little for anyone. The boys would search for weeds, grass, roots, anything that was edible, which they would ill and eat with olive oil. Pte. Simcoe spent two years and ? days on the island, a fugitive, always half starved, almost naked and at times nearly frozen to death. Whilst there he learned to speak, and. write the language. He eventually managed to obtain a passport in a Greek name. When he later escaped to Cairo he was supplied with outfits and comforts by the Red Cross, the English, the Scottish and the Australian Comforts Fund. On leaving Crete he weighed nine stone but has put on weight rapidly and is now over 13 stone again. An amazing coincidence was the fact that his brother, Sgt. Hilton Simcoe, was having a drink in a club in Cairo when he heard an Aussie say that he had just escaped from Crete. Hilton engaged him in conversation and was amazed to hear that his brother Jack was in the same party. He broke all records to the camp where his brother was and did they have a reunion! When he arrived back in Yeoval, his home town, on June 24. Pte. Simcoe was accorded a right royal welcome. All the members of his family were present excepting Hilton, who is still overseas and Arthur, stationed in Australia. People from near and far attended the welcome home, which took place in the Yeoval hall. Music was supplied by Theobald's orchestra, and it was a very happy evening. The Rev. Father Cohen, from Cumnock, welcomed him home on behalf of the people of Yeoval. Among other speakers was the local master, who read a message of wel-come from Mr. and Mrs. Trefle. the Creek people, of Yeoval. who also enclosed two substantial cheques, one from themselves and one from their partners in business. He was also presented with a wallet of notes by the people of the district. Pte. Simcoe has 21 days' leave and is enjoying it to the full. After the war is over his ambition is to have a farm and to grow lots and lots of good things to eat.- 

Dunedoo News (1943, July 22). Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved May 14, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156206336

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