SAFE IN EGYPT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 October 1941, Page 4

SAFE IN EGYPT

GUNNER NOEL. ATKINSON. ESCAPE MADE FROM CRETE. News has been received by Mrs G. Daubney, of Masterton, of her nephew, Gunner Noel Atkinson, who was reported missing and is now a prisoner of war in Crete. The news came from another gunner, who was also taken prisoner with him and was in the same troop. They were both in the same line of business and had a lot in common. Later, when word went round the camp that they were to be taken to Germany or elsewhere, the writer, with several others, decided to make a dash for it, and managed to escape, but had to go in hiding in the hills for a few weeks before they could make a get-away. He had been in Egypt a fortnight but it was six weeks,,.since he left the camp. He was looking very fit and well and quite cheerful when he last spoke to him. The New Zealanders were treated very’'well and were practically left to run the camp themselves. They were allowed to do their own cooking and any suggestions regarding sanitary facilities, etc., were acceded to and they were told to go ahead. Food was very scarce, but they had become used to that. While they were away “in hiding,” the rest of the camp were moved to the mainland—where, is not yet known.