Timeline of Events

September 1942

Denis transported by boat to the port of Taranto in Italy, from where he moved to Campo 51, a transit camp at Altamura in Southern Italy, north of Taranto and west of Bari. Denis was issued reference number PM 3450.

October 1942

Denis transferred to Campo 57 in Gruppignano, near Udine, in North East Italy, close to what is now the Slovenian border. Denis was issued reference number PM 3200.

6 October 1942

Jean and Denis' family informed that a Vatican City radio broadcast named Denis as a POW in Italian hands.

10 October 1942

Jean and Denis' family received a letter from Base Records retelling of the Vatican City radio broadcast. The letter warns that the Vatican broadcast "not to be regarded as official."

20 October 1942

Jean and Denis' family received official notification letter that Denis is a POW.

12 November 1942

Jean and Denis' family received letter from Base Records that Denis is held in Campo 57, Italy.

3 September 1943

Italian Armistice signed.

4 September 1943

Italian guards deserted Campo 57. The POWs obeyed the War Office instruction to remain in the camp.

7 September 1943

Germans took control of Campo 57.

13 September 1943

Denis and the other POWs were marched to the Cividale railway station and boarded trains bound for Germany.

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

This passage describes Campo 51 where Denis spent weeks in transit.

Some of the drafts from Benghazi which arrived at Taranto during September were sent after disinfestation to a new camp three miles north-west of Altamura. It was on a gentle slope in the middle of a plateau of parched and stony land, but the barrenness of the compound was relieved by a shady almond grove which cut across one corner. Like Bari, this camp was only half finished: an administration block and latrines were built, but the only accommodation for the thousand or more prisoners consisted of the groundsheet bivouacs standard in Italian transit camps. Although the amount of food was very small, it was all of excellent quality by contrast with what had been issued at Benghazi, especially the bread, cheese, and fresh vegetables. With this diet, the crystal-clear water and the fresh upland air, men's digestive complaints began to clear up and their appetites, if possible, to increase. After three or four days one Red Cross food parcel was issued to roughly each ten men, much to their delight and amazement, for in two hungry months spent in North Africa since their capture they had almost forgotten that milk, butter, jam, chocolate, and other such foods existed.

Letter sent by Denis from Campo 51. He mentions lectures and lessons which likely took place under the almond trees mentioned in the Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War.

Fortunately the New Zealanders and Australians were moved before the rains made the camp into a sea of mud. During their stay the mild autumn 'enfolded [them] with sweet peacefulness', and the pleasant Italian vistas helped to restore mental calm after the upheaval and strain they had hitherto experienced. The guards were easygoing and, apart from interminable roll-call parades, interfered little in the prisoners' daily lives. There was a general urge for mental occupation, which bore fruit in classes in languages and in informal lectures and debates under the only almond tree inside the compound. At night open-air concerts in the improvised parade ground gave men a chance to let off pent-up emotion in the community singing of sentimental and patriotic songs. In early October our men were moved north to Gruppignano by train-a crowded and uncomfortable two-day journey through the smiling Italian countryside.

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

This passage describes Campo 57 where Denis was imprisoned for nearly a year.

By September 1942, owing to transfers from other camps, the largest number of New Zealand prisoners in Italy had been concentrated in Campo PG 57 at Gruppignano. In July the camp had held only 1600, including some 450 New Zealanders, and the new intake made necessary the opening up of a third compound for which the huts had recently been completed. From then on the numbers rapidly increased until in March 1943 the camp held nearly 4500 (including 1800 New Zealanders) even after some had been sent off to work-camps. Although new sleeping barracks and other necessary buildings were put up, the accommodation never kept pace with the numbers arriving, and in spite of the use of recreation barracks as sleeping quarters the camp became very overcrowded.

Nevertheless most of the new arrivals at Campo PG 57, which had been represented to them by Italians as the 'best camp in Italy', felt that it satisfied at least some of their expectations. One of the shipwrecked party from the Jantzen notes that the camp had 'a good administrative staff' and that the 'rackets' in food experienced in previous camps were 'minimised'. Others in the party from Altamura who had been captured at Alamein mention the contrast between themselves-'lousy, bony and ragged'-and their fellow countrymen taken in the previous campaign-'cosy, clean, plump, and well-dressed in full British battle dress'; and the terms used, though perhaps somewhat exaggerated, express a contrast that was real. The newcomers mention the gifts of food and clothing they received, and the 'fine spirit which existed throughout that camp'.

By July 1942 a large number of the new sleeping huts with plenty of light and fresh air had been completed (as well as four intended for recreation), the sanitation had been made more efficient, and the water supply improved. Each of the compounds had its own kitchen, latrines, ablutions, and place for washing clothes, and was controlled by a senior prisoner NCO with a small staff. There were plenty of Red Cross food parcels on hand, and those who had lost weight in transit camps began to replace it rapidly. The canteen was well stocked and parcels of tobacco were beginning to arrive freely from New Zealand House and private sources. Letter mail from New Zealand itself was taking only two and a half months.

Entrance of Campo 57

Perimeter fences of Campo 57

A small library of educational books had been built up and there was a large variety of general reading matter. All kinds of classes had been arranged, though among our men those in agriculture, accountancy, and languages seem to have had the greatest following. There were art, music, and drama groups; and individuals filled in their time with a variety of crafts, from knitting and crocheting to wood-carving and making objects from tin. For some time those who had wished had been able to cultivate flower and vegetable gardens within the camp bounds, seeds having originally been provided by the camp authorities. The arrival in the summer of 1942 of some cases of sports material sent by the World Alliance of YMCAs enabled full use to be made of the large area available for sport, and baseball, soccer, cricket, volley-ball, and deck tennis all had their following.

The Italian commandant [Colonel Vittorio Calcaterra] prided himself on maintaining strict 'discipline'. For not standing to attention at the lowering or hoisting of the huge Italian flag at the camp gates, for not saluting an Italian officer, for talking during check parade, or for not wearing sufficient clothing near the perimeter fence (apparently considered an incitement to indecent assault) the punishment was 30 days in solitary confinement. Some claim that the commandant kept the cells almost always full as a matter of policy, and that they were emptied to some extent only during the visit of a neutral delegate or of a papal representative, or on the occasion of some happy event in the Italian royal family. Nor was brutality discouraged among his subordinates: the camp has a record of handcuffing, 'beating-up', and shootings and woundings at least as bad as that at Bari. And although one of the New Zealanders killed there was shot dead while cutting the wire for an escape, another who walked across the trip-wire in broad daylight in his pyjamas was obviously at the time mentally unbalanced and could easily have been apprehended. [Calcaterra died before he could be tried as a war criminal]

The perimeter defences of the camp were exceptional: a squared barbed-wire fence 17 feet high, followed by a double concertina obstacle, and then a high double-apron fence of barbed wire with concertina wire under each apron. The page 78whole length was lit by powerful arc-lights at close intervals and manned by frequent machine-gun posts, as well as by moving sentries. The commandant took pride in the fact that no one had been able to escape. On the night of 29 October, however, 19 Australians and New Zealanders broke out of the camp through a tunnel planned by two senior warrant officers. The tunnel-about 150 feet long-had been dug over a period of months, with great attention to secrecy even from the other prisoners in the camp; for it was found by experience that, especially in a large mixed camp, even if there was no one of doubtful loyalty, there were always some who through various kinds of indiscretion could not be relied on.

There was consternation among the Italian staff when the breakout was discovered at roll-call on the following morning, and there followed a hue and cry involving large numbers of troops in the district. Most of the escapers made their way across country in pairs, some heading for Switzerland and others for Yugoslavia, but all were recaptured in five days. Some of them spent long periods in the cells, part of the time in chains, and on release were housed in a special barrack and subjected for a while to special checks every two hours. The rest of the camp, too, came in for its share of what was described by a Protecting Power representative as 'severe control and surveillance'. Searches similar to those described in connection with Campo PG 47 at Modena, involving the complete evacuation of each barrack and the taking up of sections of the flooring, occurred every week regardless of the weather. The prisoners were sometimes called out to check parade at past midnight. When taxed by a neutral delegate with the illegality of such treatment under international law, the commandant gave the arrogant reply that he proposed to continue it until he was satisfied that the prisoners were no longer secretly planning to escape.

POWs delousing clothing.

Fortunately the winter turned out to be mild. Although the allowance of blankets was sufficient, there were few heating stoves in the barracks and only enough fuel to keep them going for about two hours each evening. Conditions in the cells were especially severe in winter, as they were not heated in any way, and prisoners slept on bare boards with one blanket only. Supplies of Red Cross food parcels failed owing to the breakdown in the transport arrangements through southern France, and the International Red Cross Committee warned all camps to issue at the rate of half a parcel a week as from 1 December. Some men who had not sufficiently recovered from previous privations broke down in health as a result of this additional food shortage; there were a good many cases of beriberi and a disproportionate number of deaths both in the camp and in the local hospital.

In February the supply of parcels again became ample, day after day of sunny weather made possible almost unlimited sport and sunbathing, and most of the camp population became physically fit. When medical inspections were held to determine who were fit enough to go out on a work-party, few were rejected. Because of a lack of volunteers for these labour camps a party of 300 had been detailed in October, and a ballot for another party had been held in December. From then on parties began to leave for work on various construction jobs in the district, mainly with pick and shovel; and in the spring and summer of 1943 considerable numbers left Campo PG 57 for agricultural work, both in the neighbourhood of Gruppignano and as far afield as the upper reaches of the Po in north-western Italy.

Although my letters are now few I have never spent more time thinking and longing for you. All my thoughts are set on the finish of this ghastly war and getting home to you Dear and my parents. What a happy day it will be, it seems almost too much to hope for but it must come true some day and every week brings it closer. After all to the last generation it seemed as though the last war would never end. We are still young Sweetheart and these long years of separation will seem but a fleeting moment in our life when we are together again for good. Nothing parts us again My Lady. The last three weeks I have had a Red Cross parcel each week to myself. 10lbs in each parcel and all good wholesome food of splendid variety. I am feeling the benefit of it and am getting quite fit on it. The weather is getting very cold now with snow on the mountains but I have a brand new British overcoat, Italian winter trousers and two sets of winter woollens - scarf, socks and mittens - so keep pretty warm. On cold days we stay in the huts and play cards or read. We have two parades a day, one at 9AM and one at 4:30PM, about half-hour each so are not out in the bad weather.

We here had a week's rain but it is very warm and better than wind off the snow. We only have to go out on parade for a few minutes twice a day so keep dry. We have a euchre tournament going in the hut and have been filling in the days - 21 couples are playing. Sometimes the days drag. The lights go out at 9PM - it is dark at 5PM and not light till nearly 9:45 in the mornings. The sleeping hours are thus very full.

We have a euchre tournament going in the hut and have been filling in the days. 21 couples are playing. My partner and I had a good day winning 12 out of 16. Sometimes the days drag. The lights go out at 9PM.

Xmas has now passed and it has proved a most enjoyable one by the arrival in this camp of a large batch of POWs from another camp. All my old cobbers proved to be among them. Don Chambers, Paul Peterson and dozens of the old Suva boys. You can imagine how we talked. Gee! It was great yarning. All these chaps were captured last year and are in fine fettle and well equipped having had regular supply of Red Cross parcels and had parcels from NZ House and home.

Now for telling you of Xmas Day itself. It was a nice fine day and as I told you we had a special Xmas parcel issued for this week. At 7AM I had tea with milk and sugar and a biscuit with butter and marmalade. Parade 8AM. 8:30 a cup of tea with a choc biscuit and a piece of Xmas cake. 10AM stew of rice, potato and meat. 12:30 ½ pd of Xmas pudding and ½ pt of custard. 4:30PM bread and butter, cheese and tea and orange. 8:30 tea and a slice of Xmas cake. During day ate 5oz of chocolate and a handful of raisins. Not bad eh!

It is now nearly six months since my capture - in some ways the time seems to have flown. I hope the next six months goes as quickly and sees us in better circumstances - as well it may. We had a visit from a Papal delegate yesterday and he presented each man with a set of Vatican City stamps. They will make nice souvenirs. Last week I bought a pipe for a Lire to smoke up a mixture of Italian tobacco. When I get home I will probably continue the pipe habit which will please you more than the cigarettes.

Christmas best wishes from Denis in Campo 57.

Camp money issued to Denis. Denis bought his pipe with camp money.

The New Year is now begun and I wonder what it will bring forth. We here are quite hopeful. This time next year we should be together for always dear one. How I dream and pray for that day. My love for you never wanes Jean and this life makes my longing for you and a home all the more ardent. Well we have had our first snow down on the level and the hills are well coated. On bright sunny days it is lovely but dull days we stay pretty well under the blankets and read or play cards. We don't feel the cold near as badly as I anticipated.

It is just great being in direct contact once again. I was very surprised to get mail addressed to this camp so soon. I am glad to hear that you are all well and I'm hoping that you are not worrying too much. My luck still holds so much so that I'm sure it must be the result of your prayers and intercessions as I know my own unworthiness. My constant prayer is to be made more worthy of the love of my parents and fiancée and to be returned to you in health.

This life is better in many ways than one might visualise but it will of course leave its mark and it is a consolation to me that my loved ones are wise, kind and loving and will be understanding of changes in me. I am now well off for clothes and my first parcel from you and NZ House will put me right.

Today is very cold again however it looks as if we may have a little snow. Really the cold has not worried me unduly and we'll soon have warm weather now. For a month or two our instruments were taken away but we have them back now and had a fine little concert in our hut. Well dear one I guess you are having great weather and swimming. How I long for home and you.

Your letter written 20 Nov arrived on 18 Feb - Jean's birthday. Here we are all a year older and still so far separated. Surely this must be the last year. We of course get little news that we can rely on here. Waiting however is not so terrible as mail from you helps a lot and many new books have come to hand. There is talk of sending us out working soon. It will be a welcome change and we would be fitter.

You no doubt have seen the names of many of my cobbers killed and dead. I hope that did not start fresh worry on my account. I'm glad that Dick Bennett is safely home. We only knew that he was missing and not with us. I take it he must have been wounded.

Well my birthday has come and gone now as well as yours. I had quite a good day in spite of captivity - had a pound tin of meat pudding cooked up with onions and curry for tea and was pleasantly full. Today I was called out for a working party but was turned down by Italian doctor as unfit. I have a bad cold just now.

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

This passage describes the work camps which Denis hoped to be included in, but was excluded on medical grounds.

Unlike Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy did not immediately employ British prisoners of war as an auxiliary labour force, although she was perfectly entitled to do so under international law. Instead British prisoners merely did their own camp fatigues, or work necessary for the erection of additional barracks in their camp, or an occasional odd job in the locality that did not involve sleeping away from their quarters. The reasons for this are not clear. But it was probably the strain on prison-camp accommodation in the summer of 1942, combined with German encouragement, which brought about the formation of work detachments living apart from but still under the administration of the main camp. There is some evidence that German officers experienced in the organisation of work by prisoners of war and in the running of work detachments visited Italy at this period in an advisory capacity, for Germany had been employing prisoners for some two and a half years. At first the detachments were small (about 50-odd) and were employed mostly at farms and vineyards, especially at harvest time, though some were employed on the construction of new prisoner-of-war camps. In late 1942, however, the Fascist Government began to realise the value of such a reserve of unskilled labour for engineering and industrial projects as well as farming, particularly when the drain on their own manpower became heavier. But by the time the Italian authorities had really got round to organising the employment of the masses of fit men held in their prisoner-of-war camps on work useful to the Italian economy, and had begun to set up completely independent work-camps in the areas where they were most needed, the regime was collapsing and with it the whole Italian war effort.

Campo 57 in 1943

The first of the independent work-camps set up in Italy was Campo PG 107 at Torviscosa. The seven sub-camps of Campo PG 107 formed in the spring of 1943 were smaller parties employed on agricultural labour. Campo PG 107/4, for example, on a state farm at San Dona di Piave on the Adriatic coast north of Venice, consisted of 50 page 83New Zealanders employed on haymaking, weeding, and digging. Their quarters were cramped though quite comfortable, and they did well for food on the farm.

At present we are having a good run of food parcels from Red Cross and getting one each a week. Under these conditions one is Ok. Well dear ones as you must realise all my thoughts and longings are of you all at home. Home! Surely this ghastly war must be driving to a close soon. We'll be wondering if we'll be out by next Xmas before long. However I guess when it is all over these years will be merely a small episode - but we'll never forget.

Quite a lot of mail has come in the last few days. None of yours have turned up in this lot - or have you got tired of waiting for me? Many chaps (four) have been deserted by wives and fiancées in this hut since being POW. This cursed war, waiting and strain is hard on all, one could hardly blame a young girl wanting change and diversion, but Dear however hard it is for those of you at home you cannot imagine the futile aimless endless drag of life for us here. We could not help our fate, have done our part, and now can only wait and hope for the best. We can do nothing - that's what makes it hard. A few hundred Aussies went out farming yesterday and some Kiwis (me included) expect to go out next week. Change would be welcome in a way.

This is the first of May. A lovely spring morning here. We get around a lot in shorts and singlet now and do a lot of sunbathing although occasionally we have a cold snap and fresh snow on the mountains. Our garden plots are looking well. I have a few lettuce, cabbage and tomatoes coming on nicely but of course hope to be out of here before reaping the benefit of them. We now have a very good library in the hut and spend a lot of time reading and playing volleyball and cricket. Am very fit and well these days. Regular Red Cross parcels make all the difference. Soon we must be together again and then we'll make up for these tired days of waiting. When you get fed-up, look to our future Dear. We are still young (very young really!) and a long worthwhile life lies ahead.

At last your parcel has arrived safe and intact. It was very welcome but thanks to Red Cross and NZ House I was not lacking in anything. Everything will be most useful. We are really marvellously well off these last few months and should be most thankful. Our only hardship lately is monotony.

Many have gone out farming from this camp but I'm still here. Our hut now contains a great variety - besides Australians and Kiwis, we have a Dane, Slav, Greek, South African and Serbs and Canadian. Plenty of books, cards and cricket fill our days. News brought in by a new airmail seems good and we are hopeful that this damned war may finish by Xmas. But we know so few facts - can only wait and hope.

All still going well here Sweetheart and still hopeful of liberty before this Xmas. Freedom must come sometime - then home to you. The knowledge of your staunch love is wonderful - so many girls have chucked their fiancés - I'm sure I'm not deserving of you.

Letter censored to prevent Denis revealing details of his location or situation.

The days are still sliding by and though each is long in itself the year seems to be going fast. All here are pretty fit and of course hoping to be out before Xmas as we did before last Xmas. God grant we're not still here thus after next Xmas.

Cricket, baseball and a bit of tennis with wooden bats in limited space fill our days. Bridge, reading and an occasional concert all help to pass the time. Conversation lapses from lack of fresh topics. One meets a cobber but one can discuss nothing - runs thus "what do you know?" - "FA" - silence - "Well see you again" and that's that.

It is now a year since my capture. A long hard year but I guess all trials have their lessons and consolations if looked on in the right attitude. Many chaps have had news of desertion by wives, fiancées and sweethearts, and the death of loved ones. Thank God I have been fortunate. I am really undeservedly lucky. Reading and bridge still fill my days. Contract Bridge! Always a four at least playing and bridge is discussed and argued from morn till late at night.

Life still goes on. Many ingenious inventions have been made out of tins and bits of wood for brewing up and cooking. Many suitcases have also been made from empty tins cut down overlapped and joined. I have still missed going out and working. Usually walk around the wire for an hour morning and night for exercise. Have a cold shower every day and am feeling very fit and I'm really in jolly good condition. Surely fate will not keep us apart much longer.

Sometimes I realise how unfair we our to ourselves when we write home only reassuring letters of the bright side of our life and leaving out ugly heart-rendering and sordid facts. Many thoughtless ones at home are to think our part easy. They should gain some idea by reading some unvarnished books on the last war. But of course civilian morale must be kept up - hence lies and more lies. But who gives a damn - those with the power of thought and reason will have understanding. I often wonder if you can imagine what life in a POW camp means after a year and more even to those fit and well and fairly treated. I'm not bemoaning my fate but only on the truth can understanding be built.

Received a surface mail letter from you containing a photo of you in uniform. Thanks - I like it in a way but somehow it does not seem entirely you - but of course two or three years at our age change one a lot. However I guess the essential that we loved in each other still is there and our love will be a mature and finer thing as a base on which our married happiness will rest. Glad you are all well and hope you are all not becoming militarised. Fancy coming home to marry an army.

Weather is hot and trying - electrical storms - but I'm very fit and getting fat. Had some excellent books lately. Read, play contract, loaf all day, eat and drink. Ideal existence almost? Longing for liberty and home.

If you realised how perverted the workings of the mind of a POW are, you would not have mentioned any particular chap quite so much. Many page 86

Joker cards collected by Denis while he was a POW.

page 87of us are getting a little 'wire-happy' darling but fortunately I have sufficient sanity to retain my trust and love for you. Now I feel like ripping this up - it may hurt you - doubt of you is really not part of me. But Darling it's so hard to write anything but rubbish. Our worst trial is of course monotonous waiting.

The Italian Armistice September 1943

In May 1943 the Axis forces in Tunisia surrendered and on 9 July the Allies invaded Sicily. On 25 July Mussolini resigned and on 3 September an armistice was signed and the Italians exited the war. It was expected that the POWs held in Italian camps would soon be liberated. Denis could reasonably have expected to be freed from Campo 57 within a few weeks. But the POWs in Italy were not liberated in 1943 and were instead taken captive by the Germans, due in no small part to inappropriate orders issued by the British Government to POWs to remain in their camps rather than attempting escape.

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

This passage describes how POWs in Italy including Denis fell captive to the Germans.

Most camp leaders had received the War Office instruction for prisoners to remain in their camps, and had in some made elaborate plans for taking over from the Italians and preventing disorder in the neighbourhood. There was in nearly every camp a reserve of Red Cross food sufficient to last a week or two. Prisoners were acutely aware of the possibility of transfer to Germany and further imprisonment there under unknown conditions; but there was so little reliable information about what was happening outside that it was impossible to decide on a definite plan of action. As time went on the atmosphere at some camps became tense; early hopes of release gave place to suspense and anxiety.

Allied troops landed at Calabria on the Italian mainland on 3 September, the day on which the armistice with Italy was secretly signed. Some camps, for example Campo PG 57, had been kept without newspapers or broadcast bulletins for some weeks, no doubt for fear of demonstrations or even organised rebellion.

The news of the armistice reached most camps in the early evening of 8 September. In many of them excited guards were cheering as they acclaimed the end of the war, at the same time throwing away their arms and preparing to leave for their homes in civilian clothes, though this did not generally happen on a large scale until the news reached them that the Germans were on the way to take over the camp. On the whole it was received by prisoners phlegmatically-almost with disbelief, though among them too there were some scenes of rejoicing and a good deal of toasting where wine was obtainable. A few of them got away in the confusion, some seizing the opportunity to escape, others merely to pick grapes in a nearby field or to sample the local wine. But most men went back to their games of bridge or to their unfinished snacks of supper. It was a sleepless night for prisoners in many parts of Italy, not only because of disturbing thoughts about the future, but also because of much indiscriminate shooting off of firearms, a good deal of it no doubt in celebration of the armistice. Moreover, the whole deadening routine of prison-camp existence had been suddenly broken and men had to use their initiative again in thinking out actions to suit a quite unfamiliar situation. The emphasis was on 'keeping cool', especially in view of the War Office instructions not to move about. Nearly all Italian camp commandants seem to have received instructions that prisoners were to be kept in their camps until collected by Allied forces, but were to be protected from seizure by the Germans. As there were considerable German forces in the vicinity of some camps, it is not clear how this protection was to have been given.

The failure to adopt a sufficiently realistic plan for the release and evacuation of prisoners of war in Italy had most unfortunate results in the two or three days following the armistice. Camp leaders and senior officers were faced with the responsibility of deciding whether to disobey a War Office order in what seemed a potentially dangerous and very confused situation, about which almost no reliable page 88information could be obtained. In such an uncertain position those who decided to carry out the last British order they had received could hardly be blamed; and large numbers of officers and troops, well-disciplined in spite of years as prisoners of war, obeyed the order that was passed on to them. The order was explicit, admitted no alternatives, and had not been modified or cancelled. The gist of the message conveying the order was:

"All personnel were to stay put 'when war ends'; they were to organise themselves into military units and await orders; arms and assistance would be flown in. Officers at officers' camps were to be prepared to take command of nearby other ranks' camps."

The order had been formulated several months previously, and was on 8 September 1943 totally unrelated to the existing military situation in Italy. Nothing could have played better into the enemy's hands. The outcome was the transfer to Germany of tens of thousands of able-bodied British soldiers who might otherwise have rejoined the Allied forces.

Most of the prisoners who obeyed these orders were collected with ease by comparatively small German detachments and sent to Germany; a large number of those whose camp leaders disobeyed them eventually reached the Allied lines or Switzerland. Thus base camps like Campo PG 47 (contained nearly all the New Zealand officer prisoners) and Campo PG 57 (contained the greatest number of New Zealand other ranks) were rounded up almost intact. It was from more remote working camps such as Campo PG 107 or Campo PG 78/1, where the camp leader acted on his own initiative in bringing pressure on the Italians to allow the men to leave, or at others like Campo PG 106/20, where prisoners were released and advised to leave by one of the guards, that the greatest number of our successful escapers in this period was drawn.

Ready for evacuation from Italy to Germany.

At many camps these releases were three or four days after the announcement of the armistice. Italian camp officers seem, with a few exceptions, to have carried out their orders, namely, to keep the prisoners in camps ready to hand over to Allied troops and if necessary release them to prevent their falling into German hands. But German pressure, and occasionally Fascist leanings, undoubtedly induced a few of them to hand over their camps to the nearby German troops. In any case it would clearly not have been feasible for most Italian commandants to have prevented their camps falling into German hands by force of arms. Nearly a week after the armistice announcement a BBC transmission advised prisoners in Italy that it was their duty not to remain in camps but to make good their escape. By that time, according to the German claims, 25,000 had been entrained for Germany, and judging by eye-witness accounts of the numerous trainloads which went north in the few days after 13 September this figure is probably no exaggeration.

The following are the figures (so far as they are known) showing the fate of New Zealand prisoners in Italy at the time of the armistice. Where known, British Commonwealth totals in round figures are given for comparison:

Near Campo PG 57, which contained some 1500 New Zealand other ranks at that time, a detachment of German troops arrived on the day page 89of the armistice proclamation to bivouac. Next day some of the Italian guards left their posts and went home, but it was not until eight o'clock that night that the Italian commandant announced the armistice to the prisoners. He instructed them to remain quietly in the camp, assured them that there was nothing to be feared from the Germans, who were busy getting out of Italy, and promised in case of any interference that the Italian guard would defend them 'to the last'. Sentries were doubled, but a number of men got away in the early confusion. A chaplain, as the senior British rank, promulgated the British order about not leaving camp, and most men seem to have believed that British troops would soon arrive. For two days there were orders and counter-orders and many wild rumours. At one time the whole camp was preparing to leave in small groups under NCOs, to be led to safety by Italian guides, but this order was cancelled. On the third day the Germans took over the camp without opposition, and on the 13th the first batches of fifty were marched under heavy guard to the Cividale railway station [from where they were transported by train to POW camps across Germany.]

Campo 57 Today

Little remains of Campo 57 today. A chapel is located on the site with a plaque commemorating the English, Australian and New Zealand POWs.

Plaque at Campo PG57 pictured above. It translates as:

United in comradeship the sorrowful long imprisonment From 24 October 1941 to 13 September 1943 Of warrant officers and soldiers This church is erected With their labour and generous concourse Find solace and consolation In perpetual memory The crucified Symbol of redemption and love Is bestowed

17 October 1946

Chapel on the site of Campo 57.

The view of the mountains from the Campo 57 site which Denis referenced in his letter of 1 May 1943.

Remnants of a Campo 57 barracks building in Giuliana Campbell's back garden.

The lane which was once the main entrance to Campo 57.

The back of the cross from above the altar, signed by POWs who built the church. Denis' name is not among them (he was not Catholic).

Cividale railway station in 2005, from where Denis was transported by train to Germany in September 1943.

Romina's house (street address 3 Campo) built after the war onto what had been the camp cook's quarters

Giuliana Campbell's house built after the war onto what had been the Campo 57 sick bay. Giuliana's father was camp interpreter.

Article from New Zealand POW Magazine.