73518 Lieutenant Horace William Devereux LONGDEN, Kaffrarian Rifles, South African Forces: POW

Army Number: 73518
Rank: Lieutenant
Name: Horace William Devereux LONGDEN
Unit: Kaffrarian Rifles, South African Forces

 

PART I.
GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BRITISH/AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR.

1. No. - 73518
RANK - LIEUTENANT
SURNAME - LONGDEN
CHRISTIAN NAMES - HORACE
DECORATIONS - Africa Star

2. UNIT (ARMY) - THE KAFFRARIAN RIFLES, S.A. FORCES

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - 4 Bde., 2nd S.A. Division

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 24 August 1899

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - 19 June 1940

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - Journalism. Edited Camp Magazine.
The ? at MODENA & studied languages French, Italian, Spanish, Russian & Portuguese
(unable to write ? owing to constant moves - Germany)


7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - (1) In S.A. - c/o Std Bank of S. Africa, Cape Town
(2) In London - c/o South Africa House (temporary address)

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - 21 June 1942 Tobruk

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? No

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
- (1) BARI July 4th(?) - few weeks
- (2) CHIETI July 1942 - October 1942
- (3) MODENA October '42 - 9 Sept 43
(Here 6 months gap while escaped in ITALY)
- (4) MOOSBURG 16 Mar 44 - May 44
- (5) ROTENBERG May 44 - May 44
- (6) ?WEINSBERG May 44 - 11 Dec 44
- (7) MOOSBURG March 45 - 19 Apr 45 (released)


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
-

12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration
No

12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
-


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. - 73518
RANK - Lieutenant
SURNAME - LONGDEN
CHRISTIAN NAMES - HORACE WILLIAM DEVEREUX


2. LECTURES before Capture:
( a ) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave the event of capture? (State where, when and by whom).
Frequently. In training in South Africa & while in the desert with 2nd S.A. Division. Usually by senior officers.
( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom).
Cannot remember any specific case.

3. INTERROGATION after capture:
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy? (State where, when and methods employed by enemy).
Specially interrogated while escapee in ITALY, on recapture. Fascists on whole good, tried to ply me with drink! Gestapo method outside PIEGRANO, bluff threats but no physical force used.


4. ESCAPES attempted:
Did you make any attempted or partly successful escapes? (Give details of each attempt accurately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, wherein when recaptured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to your companions?)
Full details of three escapes while escapee in ITALY on separate sheet, Exhibit "A". At MODENA worked on tunnels & also at ROTENBERG, but in both cases these were found out.
Throughout captivity seeking methods to escape. Escaped at time of Italian armistice.


5. SABOTAGE
Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc, when employed on working-parties or during escape? (Give details, places and dates.)
While escapee in ITALY in Feb. 44 was able to visit at 4am with friendly Italians the actual fortification & working on Mt. G?, Germans North defence line near FLORENCE. Details & sketch of mine fields left with friendly Italian officer to give to Allied Forces at first opportunity. Destroyed my copy when re-captured.


6. COLLABORATION with enemy:
Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy agains other Allied Prisoners of War? (Give details, names of persons concerned, camps, dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
-

7. WAR CRIMES
If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of "Form Q" on which to make your statement.
(NOTE: Form Q is a separate form inviting information on "War Crimes" and describes the kind of offences coming under this title.)



GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET
(continued)

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
When I became a prisoner of war in June 1942, I had a sight knowledge of French. I have now reached a stage of proficiency in French, Italian & Spanish which enabled me to enter for Advanced Exams of Royal Society of Arts. Also studied Portuguese & Russian & rapidly gaining proficiency. I worked consistently without "holidays". Also did security "I" work at MODENA as I understood Italian & at first stay at MOOSBURG, in French. I hope that the army will still find use for my services until the end of the war. (I was the I.O. of the KAFFRARIAN RIFLES). (In private life, write for a living & have now six books published).


SECURITY UNDERTAKING
I fully realise that all information relating the matters covered by the questions in Part II. are of a highly secret and official nature.

I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.

Date 11th May 1945
Signature HWD Longden, Lt., No. 73578

 

Exhibit "A"

73518MLieut. LONGDEN, K.R.

Escaped from the Officers P.O.W. Camp at MODENA by getting through the wire on 9th Sept '43 at approximately 1 p.m. This presented no difficulty at some guards had also ? deserted though others at far side of camp still tried to stop prisoners.
Outside teamed up with Lt. J. GILL, 4th Bde., S.A. Forces and together reached after some weeks CARPENETTO, after some weeks thought the mountains, in an effort to get through the lines. At first opportunity CARPENETTO was full of escapees. There contacted Major W. GORDON (British Sig, Corps) who was in touch with our Forces.
Major GORDON asked me to go back towards CASTEL DEL ROCCO to round up PsW and supplied us with maps, compass and Italian money, which I understood he had obtained through contact with paratroops dropped to contact PsW behind the lines. Major GORDON was organising the scheme behind the lines and endangering his own safety. I was able to send back, aided most usefully by Sgt. Ken MAUNDERS, about 12 PsW to Maj. GORDON from CASTEL DEL ROCCO area on 2nd Nov., several days later I heard that CARPENETTO had been raided by the Germans in an endeavour to round up escapees but I understand only a few were captured out of several hundreds round about CARPENETTO. It was futile returning to CARPENETTO as the PsW had scattered. I do not know what happened to Major GORDON though I heard through friendly Italians that he had escaped. Decided therefor to make for CASSINO to carry out original intention to get through lines - MAUNDERS accompanied me. At ST. DONATA met S/Sgt. P. STEYN - S.A. Anti-Aircraft who teamed up with us and later Lt. John WINCHESTER - The HAMPSHIRES (CHIETI escapee) together with a Br. Captain (also from CHIETI), name forgotten, but in Indian Army, joined us. Sgt. P. STEYN was making his second attempt to get through at ALFADENA through the mountains, now snowed, and his guidance was invaluable. Near ALFADENA, after 2 days in snow and rain, having passed German Arty posting (23 Nov. '43) we were held up in snow few hundred yards behind German forward infantry. Decided to return and try another sector as Lt. WINCHESTER's feet were badly frostbitten and needed medical attention. Captured next day and sent to SCROthe FROSINONI. Lieut. WINCHESTER was given immediate first aid by German and taken to hospital. At FROSINONI Germans used Allied PsW to carry ammo. to anti-aircraft guns, commenting "You are helping to shoot down your own companions". The PsW immediately refused to carry any more. Maj. John HARVEY, M.C. - a rounded-up escape - saw the Commandant at FROSINONI re this matter and stop was put to it as it contravened Geneva Conventions. Placed in cattle trucks to be taken to GERMANY. After two days in trucks, with aid of small axe concealed by Maj. HARVEY, a hole was made at 2 a.m. at end of truck and most officers escaped at that hour by jumping the train while in motion. From then on wards I was on my own as we got separated in the dark. Ten days later (approx) captured by a German concealed near a road on my way south towards ROME, thence to try and get through line once more. Was in civilian clothing and armed with pistol given by friendly Italian. Managed to dispose of captor and escaped again. Gave pistol to an American (Wayne O) 2 days later as he wanted same. Continued Southward. Increasingly difficult to get thro lines as Fascists rounding up PsW. At BASSO CORREZI (30 Kms from ROME) captured in Jan with Br. O/R F. ASHLEY, Br Gunner, being given away by Fascists intimidating occupants of house where I was temporarily staying while making arrangements to get ASHLEY, and American Sgt. and self to ROME. Well treated by Fascists and separated at MONTOPOLI as I was Officer and put on truck and taken to FLORENCE and put in hospital with British wounded and unwounded and some German wounded... Thence put on train with slightly wounded British PsW en route to GERMANY. I escaped again at midnight outside BOLOGNA some 30 miles from MODENA, original starting point. (Witness Lt. Robert KRAMER (American), 229E, 85 Street N.Y., also recaptured). Worked South on foot again and recaptured about 16 March by two Fascists, unrecognisable as such in civilian clothes, armed with shotguns. Taken to PLEGANO, thence interrogated in village (unknown) close by, by Gestapo men. This interrogation took form of threats, bluff, but no physical violence.
Taken thence to LATERINA then through BRENNER to MOOSBURG, arriving there in March '44.

NOTE: Kept intelligence diary giving all military information I could gather from MODENA to CARPENETTO and left same with Italian family at St. DONATA to give to ALLIES on arrival at St. DONATA. Lt. J. GILL, whom I left at CARPENETTO and who I understand got through, was aware, I believe, that I kept intelligence notes. Passing Mt. GIOGO at 4 a.m. in snow in Feb. '44 was able to visit the uncompleted fortifications with friendly Italian guid who was employed by the Germans on the defences. Copy and plan left with Italian Officer in civilian clothes (name forgotten) to give to our troops in due course. In Feb. '44 I can say the defences were mostly incomplete, no guns had yet been mounted and the tunnelling on top of GIOGO was in initial stages. Similar gun positions were being made in mountains few kms away and minefields only partially laid. Was informed that Italian Patriots were removing mines at night. Some 500 Italians were employed here and I instructed all I contacted to desert as soon as possible. Was "on the loose" six months in ITALY. Dates are as near as I can remember.

(Sgd) H.W.D. LONGDEN. Lieut.
I.O. - K.R.