Timeline of Events

3 May 1945

Denis liberated by American troops at Kraiberg in Bavaria, and trucked to Moosburg.

10 May 1945

Denis marched 4km to Landshut 134 airfield.

11 May 1945

Denis evacuated from Landshut by plane to Brussels in Belgium.

19 May 1945

Denis wrote from Folkestone in England. New pay book issued.

31 May 1945

Denis arrived in London.

1 June 1945

Denis began one month's leave. He visits relations in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

26 June 1945

Denis cut short his leave and traveled to Folkestone, hoping for an earlier berth home. He misses out.

9-16 July 1945

Denis had a week's leave in London.

17-25 July 1945

Denis passed time at Folkestone awaiting his ship's departure.

25 July 1945

Denis embarked for New Zealand on the H.M.S. Monowai.

2 September 1945

Denis disembarked at Wellington and sent a cable to Jean - "Home at last Darling".

3 September 1945

Denis arrived in Opotiki and is reunited with Jean and with his family.

On 3 May 1945, the 96th day since the march had commenced, the 14th American Armoured Division liberated Denis. The day before the prisoners refused to march any further and their guards abandoned them. They were first discovered by an American reconnaissance party, ahead of the main advance. Later that same day they were trucked out, back over the river northward, and billeted in a grain store near Stalag VIIA at Moosburg. At some stage the POWs moved to a barn closer to Landshut to await their turn to fly out. On 10 May they marched the 4km to the Landshut 134 airfield, and the next day Denis was on a plane to Brussels and Belgium.

Denis wrote this letter from a barn near Moosburg while waiting for a flight out of Germany

Excerpt from Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War

This passage describes the evacuation of liberated POWs, including Denis, from Germany to England.

Release came to prisoners of war in Germany in such a variety of ways that a description of what happened to those at main camps and to a few of the hundreds of smaller parties cannot do more than cover some of the more typical aspects of liberation. Evacuation was a much more uniform affair. For, although a few of our men commandeered transport, most were willing to wait for instructions from those officers of the Allied occupation forces whose task it was to cater for released prisoners.

A plan had been made by Shaef in the autumn of 1944 for this evacuation, and a central organisation known as PWX was set up at Supreme Allied Headquarters, with liaison groups at major headquarters which worked through contact officers. The latter were sent forward by every possible means to areas where prisoners were assembled. There were representatives from the Dominions and from all arms of the service in these contact teams. They carried instructions to the prisoners in camps to remain there, and for those outside to report to the nearest transit centre, in order to simplify maintenance and documentation and to avoid any uncontrolled movements of prisoners which might hamper operations. A chain of transit centres was set up on the lines of communication, and ad hoc units were formed to organise and maintain them. The latter were equipped with special disinfestation, bathing, clothing and medical facilities, Red Cross services, YMCA teams to organise amenities, and Army Education teams to give up-to-date information. The plan was to evacuate prisoners by air to the United Kingdom. In view of the bad physical condition of many prisoners resulting from the forced marches they had undergone, the air evacuation was pushed forward with all possible speed, and some of the services provided at transit centres on the Continent never had a chance to function fully.

Ex-prisoners either remained in their camps, or were taken to a transit centre, or were found billets until they could be evacuated from the nearest important airfield. Sometimes 'K' rations and other army rations were supplied to prisoners in billets. As soon as possible they were taken to the airfield by army lorries and organised into groups of 30-odd ready for emplaning.

Almost as soon as the flights of Dakota transport aircraft arrived they loaded, took off, and headed back towards the west. Only the prisoners from a few camps in north-west Germany were evacuated direct to the United Kingdom in British aircraft; most were taken to France or Belgium, where they broke their journey and spent a night, or a few hours only, at a specially prepared transit centre before going on. Most of our men seem to have gone to either Rheims or Brussels.

The transit centre at Brussels, which was the one to which it had been intended that the majority of British ex-prisoners should go, received and sent on some 40,000 of them in three weeks at the end of April and in early May. As the streams of Dakotas arrived from Germany and unloaded, lorries took the ex-prisoners to the transit centre; and at the same time streams of British four-engined bombers were taking on to England those who had already passed through. At the centre they were given showers, new uniforms, and an advance on pay. They could stay a night in a hotel run by the Belgian Red Cross Society; they had full use of recreation rooms run by the YMCA; and they could go on leave to take advantage of private hospitality, or to buy presents in the city, or just to look around. A liaison officer speaks of the prisoners being 'all in rocketing spirits'. But most of our men's spirits did not reach their climax until they arrived in England, for not until then were they back among people and in an environment nearly the same as their own. There was in England the additional thrill of seeing again (or seeing for the first time) the country from which the forbears of most of them had come during the last hundred years.

I am part of the way home and out of Germany. Yesterday we flew from Landshut in Bavaria to the Belgian Capital [Brussels]. Received pay in Francs and English money. After chance of carrying on to England last night was gone we got around a bit. I ran into Lee Hill movie chap. He took a dozen of us around town for newsreel purposes so you may see my photo in papers and screen, admiring sights here [Movie Tone News May 1945]. We have been treated very well by all since recapture. Last night allowed the run of the town. Stayed sober however. It is quite a nice town and still decked out with flags of Allied nations. Today is fine and hot and we are awaiting arrival of planes to go on to England, all hoping no hitch in proceedings. Have been told we billet in Margate. Refit medical and dental exam, and start on a 28-day leave probably after 2 or 3 days. It will certainly be great reading your letters again Darling. It is ages since we have had any mail. Your last letter was an August one so you may even have tossed me by now.

The new army around here make us feel real old-timers. The songs they sing and even their slang make us feel almost strangers while the German words slipping into our conversation no doubt annoys them. Realisation of freedom is gradually dawning on me. Sometimes it takes a jump and one almost breaks down and weeps like a kid. Just some little thing will do it, like hearing Big Ben on radio or looking around for the postern and no Germans around. It would be too bad to have girls around dishing out sympathy yet - one whiff of scent, a tender word and a smile and I'd be gone, however if there are bags of loving letters they may hold me do you think? Gee, but Honey, I guess I love you more than ever so I'll not tease you.

Certified disinfested embarkation card required to depart Brussels for England.

Five years have been a hell of a wait but we sure look like coming good Darling. The prospect must be bright when an ex P.O.W. gets optimistic. Our faith in luck coming our way was at a very low ebb. You will probably know more of the possible date of our return to NZ at present than I do but after the month's leave to see around I hope its home and don't spare the horses. Home my God! Have I really got one! Coming out of the land of chaos one wonders that any of the old days is left. The last month or two were not war - it was bloody hell - Germans or no Germans, it was wholesale murder.

Well Darling Girl, take care of yourself a little longer and I'll be with you for good ("better or worse" perhaps I should say) if you still want me. We'll whoop it up Old Girl and high wide and handsome.

Just a note to let you know that I'm really on the way home at last. We flew from Landshut 134 in Bavaria to the Belgium capital and are now waiting word to move out to Drome and fly on to England. Great to be writing so casually of being in England after all these years of waiting but can hardly realise it is true yet. Our party are looking so fit and well that many out in the town won't believe that we are ex POWs. But our little party was incredibly lucky this last month. Have been treated well since recapture and I am told great yarns of things in England.

Register form for recovered allied prisoners of war. Two years, nine months and seven days spent in captivity. This form shows 29 April 1945 as the date returned to military control, but Denis' diary and letters clearly describe his liberation by American forces on 3 May 1945.

Hardly seems worth writing of adventures since leaving Oderburg on January 27th and recapture at Kraiberg near Munich on May 3rd.

Am now at Folkestone at a large hotel which had been evacuated and is now taken over by the Nth Infantry. Am waiting for dental repairs and mail from Grandma and Jean's uncle to whom I had written for permission to call before applying for my 28 days leave. Am physically fit. The English countryside is beautiful as is the seaside here. Had a great flight out of Germany. I have not done much here yet bar look at shops, try out the pubs and go to a variety show. Of women, I'm shy, horribly so. Can't get used to civvies [civilians] speaking English.

Have of course met up with most of the old crowd now - all have had very varied experiences. Am afraid we who were in Poland have had the hardest time but are Ok now. By my changes of address you will have seen that I shifted about a fair bit over there. Gorligt, Bismark (near Rattowity), Gliewity and 728 Oderburg on the Polish-Czechoslovakia border near the main area I was in. From Oderburg we marched 750 miles and finished up at Kraiberg in Bavaria (on banks of Inn).

Don't know just how long it will be before I get home but have just put in for 28 days leave from June 1st. So I guess any boat in July would suit me but may have to wait longer. I'd like to get into a private home for a while just to settle down - don't seem to be able relax and take things easy yet. But of course one can't expect to just slip back as we were - it took long enough to become accustomed to prison life.

On 31st May I left Folkestone for London, spent the night at the club there, collected my passport at the War Office next morning and some cigs from Halifax House then caught the Stran-raer Express at 4:45pm. Arrived at Stran-raer at 4pm. Military police still taking particular care of POWs so was escorted through customs and given a seat up on deck cabin.

At present I'm at Aunt Hannah's in Glasgow for the weekend. Since last I wrote I have been round a fair bit. I saw all our relations in Ireland. I've been disappointed in the shopping. Most things are sold in the coupon system and of course we have none and other stuff like leather or jewellery, photos and such like are 5 to 10 times pre-war prices. Almost impossible to buy presents but hope to be able to get some nice things if we stop at Panama on our way home. I have thoroughly enjoyed my leave so far, it was great being able to go over to Ireland and I was very pleased with all my relations. It has been quiet but home life has meant a lot.

I've always believed in you Dear and had faith in you but when I had lost faith in the world, myself and almost everything, it was hard to really believe that I could depend on holding you my dear one. Sometimes I could hardly believe I had ever had any existence other than that behind barbed wire let alone having the sweetest, kindest girl ever waiting back home for me. You are right we won't make plans yet just let actual facts wait till we have been together and do things and talk together. Lovely words, you and I, together.

I was glad to see Denis' name in a list of NZs who have been POWs in Germany but were now safe in England. Denis' name was not in the first lists that were published as I suppose he did not get out of Germany quite as soon as some of the others. It must have been a great day for them all. I hope Denis will be able to get a little leave in the Old Country and that he will be able to call on some of his relations. However he will be impatient to get back and see you all.

D-Day has come for the '7ths' and we left the Division just over a week ago. We have waited so long for this time that even now it is very hard to imagine that we are A.P.R. (awaiting passage return). I tried to get back via England in order to see my people but I have not been successful so I will have to try and arrange for them to come and visit me in N.Z. someday.

I have applied for a place in draft but am afraid my chances are very slim. Any way if shipping continues as it has I should be on the water by the end of July. I am doing all possible to speed up my return. I've had a fine time on leave and could continue to do so, to have a good time, but I'll not be happy till I'm home now. Many chaps are making fools of themselves. It is all too easy with time hanging heavy on your hands just trying to fill in a few weary weeks before the boat for home sails. Gee, you know just those few words - 'the boat for home' - just about breaks a chap up. Fancy five years a soldier and as sentimental as all that. Keep well my dear ones, it really is so close to the greatest reunion one could ever have.

My leave is now over, in fact I came back three days early to try and catch a draft sailing next week but have missed it unfortunately.

Had no mail from you the last few days but at any rate I guess I don't deserve any after leaving such a gap in your mail on first arriving in England. However, I've explained that I was very unsettled at first and also Dear I had had no mail for such a long time at the finish in Germany that it was a little difficult. Another thing my dear I did not want to let you think that it would matter too much to me if after it was all over you really felt there was someone else. I did not want you to feel absolutely tied to me for after all you were young when we were engaged and I did not flatter myself that it would be impossible for you to meet someone you could like better. I realised that it would be very hard for a girl to give a chap up in the face of public opinion. I've always loved you and always will.

Darling, just think in six weeks we will, God willing, be together again. My boat for home is sailing on the 10th July just 8 days from now. Oh darling girl of mine, I'll be down the hold trying to help the stokers shovel coal to speed the old boat up. It still seems unbelievable that I'm really going to be on the way so soon. Once we're on the boat with every turn of the propeller taking me closer to you, it will be much more real. It won't be many weeks before we'll have a fulltime job taking care of each other for always.

Afraid I have some disappointing news for you, it was a blow to me. Out boat has been delayed and we are not sailing now till 24th at earliest. After all preparations and writing to acquaint everyone of departure we are now staying on page 139and I have been granted a week's leave. Life somehow does not seem real yet. Home hardly seems real either. Half the time one just drifts on from day to day, just forcing oneself not to think. That is a habit of mind control that one had to form behind the wire and I guess it clings.

Through the boat being delayed most of us here have been granted 7 days leave. I have spent mine in London. I am going back to Folkestone tomorrow. I've seen Madame Tussauds wax works - quite good of course. Some of the figures surprised me greatly. For instance Hitler's hair was almost reddish not black as I'd always supposed. Have walked around quite a lot, seen Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Scotland Yard and all such like.

Still at Folkestone as you see. Three hundred names had to come off the list and they drew by ballot. Fortunately I was on the priority list as I had returned early from my first leave (28 days) and applied for early inclusion in a draft so I'm definitely on the next boat to leave and the 24th is the date unless any damn thing crops up again. Have had all my injections and vaccinations now, final one yesterday, and hence not feeling overly bright today.

Well today is a busy day with final preparations for departure. Have had a grand time in England and sorry to think that I may never come back again but of course one never knows just what the future holds. Probably take the best part of 6 weeks to get home.

This will be just a scratchy note on the way to the boat to let you know that I have actually started on the first stage of the journey home. We left Folkestone at 9:30am and will get to Liverpool sometime this evening. Hope you are all right dear and looking forward to my arrival home as much as I am. Darling I guess I'll be spending more time than ever trying to imagine our meeting. I wonder if you'll decide to meet the boat or wait for me at home. If the boat arrives Wellington probably be better to wait.

Anyway letter writing will soon be at an end and we can discuss our plans with each other. Hope our long separation will not lead to too many disappointments and difference of outlook now. We have been inclined always just to look at the end of the war as being the end of all troubles and worries but it actually means the beginning of responsibility again. But Jean, I guess we'll make out all right. So soon now my Dear we'll be together.

I can make no plans for the future yet. Will have to find out just what the war has done to New Zealand first. It's funny the idea of it all now, home coming is getting so close, seems very strange and I'm beginning to dread it all a bit. Just stupid I guess. Because no one could have longed for home and my own girl more than I have these years.

Denis' duties and living quarters onboard the H.M.S. Monowai.

Telegram sent by Denis upon arrival in Wellington. One day away from seeing Jean, after nearly five years apart.

Denis travelled by train from Wellington to Hamilton then caught the bus to Opotiki. Jean had thought Denis would be arriving on the regular bus service but he arrived three hours early on a special bus for returning soldiers. Jean had just sat down to midday dinner when the phone rang to say Denis was at his parents' home. Leaving her meal uneaten, she rushed over to the Caves house on Ford Street.

Denis and Jean pictured together in Opotiki in 1945.

Soldier's Service and Pay Book
Pictured here is Denis' pay book issued on 19 May 1945 in England, hence the missing entries. The pay book instructs "You will always carry this book on your person" but Denis lost his original pay book in the Battle of Sidi Rezegh.