JOURNEY OF THRILLS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1941, Page 2

JOURNEY OF THRILLS

ESCAPE FROM PRISON CAMP. ARRESTED THREE TIMES. An escape from a German prison camp and a thrilling journey have been completed by an Edinburgh man, Corporal J. A. Martin. In his travels Martin was arrested three times and put in gaol. Martin, who in civilian life is employed with a firm of Edinburgh architects, was serving last May with an English infantry regiment in France when he was wounded. In an interview with a representative of the "Scotsman,” he said he was at Dunkirk when the Germans entered the town, for although he had been taken to the beach in an ambulance, he had found it impossible, wounded as he was, to reach a ship, and had returned to hospital. Later, he was removed from the town and entered various hospitals before he was considered “fit” and sent to detention camp. Here he found food exceedingly scarce. There was no breakfast, but a meal of black bread, cabbage, and,- vegetable soup at noon and coffee at 6 in the evening. He decided to escape, and climbed over a wall. He found himself in a field, where he hid until nightfall. Then he took some civilian clothing from an unoccupied house, and this he exchanged for his khaki. Having done so, he headed for the south. In his wanderings, Martin was helped by his knowledge of French. He found a man whom he had known in the earlier part of the war, and with him stayed for five weeks. After that he went to a small village, where he was given a bicycle and 600 francs to help him on the way. With these he set out.

After a tiring journey he was arrested, as it was then feared that he might have been a deserter. Not until they had searched the official records of deserters did his captors decide to let him go. Even then it was necessary for him to swim the river. By that time his money was exhausted. He was again arrested and put in gaol. Here he spent three weeks. After his release Martin was still in danger. He had not long left a train when he fell once again into the hands of the police. He was again imprisoned. but managed to gain his release, and finally succeeded in reaching Britain.