IN ITALIAN HANDS

Southland Times, Issue 24880, 21 October 1942, Page 4

IN ITALIAN HANDS

Prisoners Of War At Derna Twelve days spent as a prisoner of the enemy at Derna during the Libyan campaign of last year provided an unenviable experience in the military career of Gunner J. McCrostie, son of Mr and Mrs J. J. McCrostie, Grey street, Invercargill. Gunner McCrostie has returned home wounded. Along with about 175 New Zealanders and some British and South African troops, he was captured during the extremely fluid fighting of that period. He had three slight wounds, and except for such temporary field dressings as his own units could provide his wounds did not receive proper attention. The Germans commanded the prison camp for the first few days and then handed it over to the Italians—a change which was not appreciated by the New Zealanders. Food was not plentiful and throughout the 12 days the troops did not receive what they were prepared to describe as a “square meal.” They were given soup in the mornings and there were fair supplies of macaroni, but of the kind of food to which they were accustomed there was very little.

“The Italians even took the water supplies from the prisoners,” remarked Gunner McCrostie. He added that in the desert this was regarded as an unspeakable crime. It w ( as typical of the actions of the Italians, for whom none of the British troops had any respect. The ordeal of the prisoners was not prolonged because after they had been in enemy hands for 12 days they were released by a dashing attack on the enemy positions by South African troops. It was a welcome relief, and the troops considered they were lucky io get out of the hands of the Italians so promptly, but their period as prisoners was an experience they were not likely to forget.