A page from Les' notebook
(left) The 14 names and addresses
entered in the book

The page from the bible

Joe Ekins

W Oliver

Les Rihll

May 1941

There's an old GREEK BARRACKS on a Flat above the Town
Surrounded by snow-capped Mountains, which throw vast shadows down -
onto a huge concause of men, whose names it does not matter,
the thousands of Unfortunates - captured at KALAMATA

They are men of every Nation and men of every Creed
Who served the Mother Country in her Greatest Hour of Need.
For THEM the fight is over - For Them the show is done.
Their thoughts are of their Loved Ones - from Dawn till Setting Sun.

Their Comforts are so very few and Sickness fairly rife
To get their few poor Meals and watch their health is now their Daily Life.
Such things are the Penalty for PRISONERS-OF-WAR.
So they are not moaning of events gone before
But there is just one thing that RANKLES in their minds -
WHY? on that fateful night they all were left behind.

The Warships stood off shore, Monsters of Britain's Might -
They do not doubt there are reasons which one day they will know
WHY they were left behind, to be captured by the Foe.

There is just another reason they would like to hear -
WHY men died that day to keep the Beaches clear?
So have a reason England to tell on their release -
Until then? - Well, they can take it - so Roll on Day of Peace.

LAGER POLICE

Beneath the Jerry's watchful eye
A Noble Copper stood
This was no lousy Sherlock Holmes
Twas Bobby Robin Hood.

He and his Cleaver Coppers
Great Mysteries do unravel
From “Who Lit Fires For Cooking?”
Down to “Who Pi**ed on the Gravel.”

They dress like Tailor's Dummies
That's their only claim to Beauty
They'd sooner miss their Tucker
Than their Daily Turn of Duty.

Saluting is their main Torte and
they do this to perfection
But - they've lots of time to practise -
when no Crime requires detection.

They help us on our Mess Parades -
they help us get our Parcels
They do the last most honestly -
They do? - Pigs! - Bloody Assoles.

Now when this Bleeding War is over
and no longer must we toil -
We'll have these **** where they belong-
‘Neath Six Feet of Nazi Soil.

STALAG 306 (XVIIID)

Gather round and I will tell you,
a tale to which none can say Nix
It's a tale that will tug at your Heart Strings -
‘Tis the Story of 306.

This Stalag was way down in Marburg -
That City of Laughter and Tears
Tho our Stay there was only a short one -
it seemed like a Thousand Years.

The Commandment gave us a Dog's Life -
made sure we were hustled and harried.
But we had to excuse the poor silly fool -
'Cos we knew his Parents weren't married!

Now the Guards were a motley collection -
just as wild and as fierce as Mouse.....
and only three words could they bellow -
"ARBEIT" - "GAMMA" - and "ROUSE".

Our Shithouse was purely for shitting -
not the place we go for a nap
As you had to keep both eyes open -
or someone would shit on your lap.

Our Cookhouse was really a Model -
one could find it without looking
Sounds tough I suppose - but you COULD - with your NOSE
When the Fish and the Cabbage were cooking.

Now our Canteen was one of the Bright Spots -
and I can’t really say much about it
As part from some weak - very weak - Jerry Beer -
it always has Sweet F.A. in it -

And of course we had Lager Policemen -
so Handsome - so Big - and 30 Strong
‘Twas sad how they kept themselves skinny -
in teaching US the right from the wrong.

They dressed up like Tailor's Dummies -
and looked like Count So-and-So
And Count was the name we gave them - but - of course -
with a BIG- SILENT "0".

Now I hope this Tale hasn't bored you -
hasn't let you think I'm a Thriller ....
I can vouch that it's true - AND MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU!!
As the Guest of Adolph Hitler!!

MARBURG - 1941 CHRISTMAS NIGHT

The Civvies all stood there in awe - The Postens wore a frown
The Prisoners walked out through the Gate and into Harburg Town.
You couldn't count them as they went - Three Hundred men in all -
They streamed down to the Brothels just to answer Nature's call.
The Lads nigh commandeered the Town - the Civvies raised a cheer
The Jerry soldiers Done-a-Bunk - and left the way quite clear.

Then onward to a place of Booze - a "Booze Up" was the Quest -
The Jerry roped in one or two - but couldn't find the rest.
The News spread round the Camp like fire and many raised a hope
They stormed the poor old Jerry Guards with Chocolate, Tea and Soap.
Now many more slipped through the Gates, although the Guards were doubled
And as the hours rolled slowly by the air was full of trouble.

Imagine what a shock it was, for Generals out at Tea -
to have the door thrown open wide - by Gefageners on the Spree.
The Jerry brought Machine Guns - and then began the pace
Chasing drunken Prisoners from every kind of place -
And when one gets back to Blighty - and we tell this round the Fire
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FOLKS WILL SAY??? - Get Out - You B--- Liar....