ROMMEL'S GRIM BREAKFAST "JOKE"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 55, 20 May 1942, Page 3

ROMMEL'S GRIM BREAKFAST "JOKE"

, .A -fr. Here is the story of the capture of a number of Australian and Britisif prisoners in Libya early in the recent campaign by Rommel in person. -4. It is the tale, too, of a grim, re- ■ venge takerf by Rommel on a joke " played fay the New Zealanders when, capturing Solloum by surprise, they «te up the enemy's breakfast (writes the official war correspondent of a Sydney journal). The story is told by Don Bailey, formerly a Brisbane life-saver and rsfow an aircraftsman in the Royal Australian Air Force. With 14 others, including four Australians, he was captured- by ftjiimel' at Sidi Azeiz anil held prisifr in Bardia for tlays until the was retaken by British troops. "It started late one Tuesday afternoon," said Bailey. "We got the \ news that Rommel was cn the way and we had to get out in a hurry. First Thought "The airfield was littered with Vplanes and equipment. Our first thought was to get the kites off the Jloor. "Five of us, Aircraftsman Ward (Victoria), Corporal Taylor (Victoria), Arthur Baines (Newcastle), ..Sergeant Bill Fisher (New South Wales) and myself, also 10 Royal Air Force chaps, volunteered to slay with a RoA r al Air Force flight lieutenant in command. "Our transport had gone. We raceel into a fort at the edge of the airfield which was held by New Zealanders and a detachment of the British Tank Corps, about 1000 in all. We had only five guns.

"We dug ourselves in like the infantry, and took our places at the machine gun nests and rifle positions. "Next morning, Rommel started in earnest, directing the assault personally from his own tank. For two hours it was hell, and in the end he silenced our guns. "As soon as our guns ceased firing, Rommel Avhizzed his tanks straight into the fort. He climbed out of the cockpit, and I recognised him at once. He fixed his monocle to his eye and gazed round triumphantly. Then he saw the New Zealanders with us, and came over. " 'Good morning, boys,' he said affably and in perfect English. We smelt a rat, but we said, 'Good morning.' 'Had breakfast yet?' he asked. 'Better hurry up and have it,' lie added significantly. 'Then we got it—not breakfast, but what he Avas driving at. "When the New Zealanders went into Solium thej r took the Jerries so much bj r surprise that the cooks were preparing breakfast and a let of men were still in bed. The Maoris captured the whole works and then scoffed, their breakfast. The Jerries kicked up an awful howl about it. "That's Avhat Rommel meant Avhen he said, 'Had breakfast yet?' After waiting a few minutes to let the humour sink in, Rommel fired a red Very light, and a couple of Jerry tanks rolled up and took us in charge. "We hadn't had breakfast, and Ave didn't have brealXast. Early in the afternoon the}' lined us up and marched 11s to Bardia, 20 miles aAvay, without Avatcr or food. A lot of chaps fell out on the Avay, but Avere picked up by lorries."