The men were in no way excited. I obtained the information when chatting in the ordinary way over a pipe of tobacco, whenever the men had an opportunity of coming to my room to have a chat.
The Story of Private ——, West Kent Regiment
"I was captured at Mons, sir. Been here over two years now. Things are not so bad now as they were at first.
"I've seen some things which I shan't easily forget. I've been keeping them to myself because we dare not talk of them.
"Some of the fellows have had a terrible time. When the war is over any German who is met in England by any prisoners of war will have a rough passage. There won't be any need to hold ourselves back any longer. My goodness, sir, they'll never get away alive!
"Not long after I was captured 70 English soldiers were taken away from the Lager one day. They never knew where they were going. They were taken to a munition factory; and when they found out where they were they passed the word along to refuse to work.
"When the Germans told them what they had to do, they refused. Their guards threatened them, and said it would be the worse for them if they didn't; but they wouldn't budge.
"Then they were taken out and made to stand in a row against a wall; and a firing-party was drawn up in front of them with loaded rifles, but not one of them flinched.
"They were told that unless they went to work they would be shot, and although the firing-party was standing in front of them not one of them would budge.
"The threat was not carried out, and they were sent back to the Lager.