Chapter I: Preface

When a young man whom I had not seen until that day came to see me in Edmonton, and told me he had a story which he thought was worth writing, and which he wanted me to write for him, I told him I could not undertake to do it for I was writing a story of my own, but that I could no doubt find some one who would do it for him.

Then he mentioned that he was a returned soldier, and had been for sixteen months a prisoner in Germany, and had made his escape--

That changed everything!

I asked him to come right in and tell me all about it--for like every one else I have friends in the prison-camps of Germany, boys whom I remember as little chaps in knickers playing with my children, boys I taught in country schools in Manitoba, boys whose parents are my friends. There are many of these whom we know to be prisoners, and there are some who have been listed as "missing," who we are still hoping against long odds may be prisoners!

I asked him many questions. How were they treated? Did they get enough to eat? Did they get their parcels? Were they very lonely? Did he by any chance know a boy from Vancouver called Wallen Gordon, who had been "Missing" since the 2d of June, 1916? Or Reg Black from Manitou? or Garnet Stewart from Winnipeg?

Unfortunately, he did not.

Then he began his story. Before he had gone far, I had determined to do all I could to get his story into print, for it seemed to me to be a story that should be written. It gives at least a partial answer to the anxious questionings that are in so many hearts. It tells us something of the fate of the brave fellows who have, temporarily, lost their freedom--to make our freedom secure!

Private Simmons is a close and accurate observer who sees clearly and talks well. He tells a straightforward, unadorned tale, every sentence of which is true, and convincing. I venture to hope that the reader may have as much pleasure in the reading of it as I had in the writing.

NELLIE L. McCLUNG

Edmonton, October 24, 1918

CONTENTS

I. HOW IT STARTED
II. THROUGH BELGIUM
III. INTO GERMANY
IV. THE LAZARET
V. THE PRISON-CAMP
VI. ROSSBACH
VII. THE ESCAPE
VIII. OFF FOR SWITZERLAND!
IX. CAUGHT!
X. THE CELLS!
XI. THE STRAFE-BARRACK
XII. BACK TO CAMP
XIII. CELLELAGER
XIV. OFF FOR HOLLAND!
XV. CAUGHT AGAIN
XVI. THE INVISIBLE BROTHERHOOD
XVII. THE CELLS AT OLDENBUBG
XVIII. PARNEWINKEL CAMP
XIX. THE BLACKEST CHAPTER OF ALL
XX. ONCE AGAIN!
XXI. TRAVELLERS OF THE NIGHT
XXII. THE LONG ROAD TO FREEDOM
XXIII. OUT
CONCLUSION

ILLUSTRATIONS

PRIVATE SIMMONS
From a photograph taken since his return to Canada
OFFICER'S QUARTERS IN A GERMAN MILITARY PRISON
GIESSEN PRISON-CAMP
TED BROMLEY, IN RED CROSS OVERCOAT WITH PRISON
NUMBER AND MARKED SLEEVE
GERMAN PRISON STAMP
These stamps are used to pay prisoners for their work and
to be exchanged for any money they may have when captured
TWO PAGES FROM PRIVATE SIMMONS'S DIARY
MAP MADE BY PRIVATE SIMMONS OF THE FIRST ATTEMPT
THE CHRISTMAS CARD WHICH THE GIESSEN PRISON AUTHORITIES
SUPPLIED TO THE PRISONERS
MAP MADE FROM PAPER WHICH CAME IN A PARCEL, WRAPPED AROUND
A FRUIT-CAKE
FRIEDRICHSFELD PRISON-CAMP IN WINTER
MAP WHICH PRIVATE SIMMONS GOT FROM THE CANADIAN ARTIST AT
GIESSEN, SHOWING ROUTES OF SECOND AND THIRD ATTEMPTS
FRIEDRICHSFELD PRISON-CAMP IN SUMMER
A PRISON POST-CARD FROM FRIEDRICHSFELD BEI WESEL, SHOWING
COSMOPOLITAN GROUP OF PRISONERS
POST-CARD SENT BY PRIVATE BROMLEY FROM THE PRISON-CAMP OF
SOLTAU, SHOWING GRAVES OF PRISONERS

THREE TIMES AND OUT