FLIGHT BY COLLIER

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 107, 1 November 1940, Page 8

FLIGHT BY COLLIER

BRITISH REFUGEES

NEW ZEALANDERS ON BOARD

(By Air Mail—From "The Post's"

London Representative.)

LONDON, August 29

Three weeks were spent in a collier by Mr. and Mrs. Noel J. Lockie (Thames) when they were evacuated from Cannes, South of France, last June with 1300 British refugees.

There were two collier boats and the conditions on board have already been described by Mr. Somerset Maugham. Among the passengers were Lady WiK ford, wife of the late Sir Thomas Wilford, and her son and daughter-in-law.

"There was no accommodation for passengers," said Mr. Lockie. "There were no hammocks, no mattresses or blankets. Fine coal dust covered everything. We had to huddle down in the holds, and rung ladders were the. only means of getting down or up. Those who were too old to risk falling slept on top of the hatches under canvas.

"As we were not told to bring provisions, few people had any. For two days those who had brought none had to share with those who had. On the third day rations were served to those whose small store was exhausted. They were given four sweet biscuits and a small portion of tinned beef, and tea. At midday one sausage and one potato were issued to each person. Children were given tinned milk and a little soup. Supper was four sweet biscuits and bully.

"Drinking water was issued sparingly about four times a day and collected in anything available —empty bottles, bully beef, or preserved sausage tins. We all had to queue up for an hour before every 'meal.'

"There was much distress when we were not allowed to land at Oran, where it was learned that the French had capitulated. We remember Oran chiefly because bread was taken aboard there and afterwards it was found to be sour.

"At Gibraltar we were refused permission to land at first, but after much protest we were all allowed ashore. In the meantime, conditions in the collier were improved. Extra sanitation accommodation was made available. Buckets were provided for washing, and cutlery and' plates were given to each person with one fork between two. Blankets and hammocks were also issued.

"All people of 70 and over and young children up to 15, with their parents, were left at Gibraltar to follow later by other boats with more suitable accommodation.

"We left Gibraltar in convoy and eventually arrived at Liverpool, thanking God that we had at last been able to arrive safely on home soil. It was an experience that I shall never want to have repeated."