Sergeant P. J. Mahoney
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3324/124
Name: 858565 Sgt. Mahoney, P.J.
Unit: "F" Squadron, No.2 Wing. The Glider Pilot Regiment.
Captured: Oosterbeek, 20th September 1944.
Escaped: Hospital at Het Loo, 15th October 1944.
1. CAPTURE.
I landed at WOLFHEZE (HOLLAND) (N.W. EUROPE, 1:250,000, Sheet 2A, E 6679) on 18 Sep 44. After unloading the gun and jeep, I rejoined my squadron and proceeded to OOSTERBEEK (E 67), where we dug in for the night on the edge of a wood. At 1115 hours on 19 Sep 44 a mortar bomb burst in the trees directly above me, and I was struck in the right foot by a splinter. I was taken to the R.A.P. at OOSTERBEEK, and had my wound dressed. Next day (20 Sep) all patients who could move were put in the cellar, as we were being heavily shelled. After I had been in the cellar for about an hour, the medical orderly came in with a German S.S. sergeant and said that the hospital had been captured.
2. EXPERIENCE IN GERMAN HANDS.
We were made to go to a field 200 yards away, those who could not walk being helped by the more lightly wounded. The Germans took away our smocks and helmets, and began to search us. They were taking watches (both civilian and military) and rings. The S.S. men found my escape purse, and put it in his right-hand jacket pocket, after tearing off the waterproof cover. I had hidden my ring in my mouth, and hung my watch on the "dog-tags" round my neck. After searching me the German put his left hand round my waist, and my right arm round his waist to help me over to the other prisoners. While he was doing this, I managed to extract my escape purse from his pocket, and conceal it in my sleeve.
During this period we were being shelled by our own people, but were refused shelter by the Germans who threatened to shoot any man who moved. A Dutch civilian who smiled at us, was shot where he stood.
After about an hour we were moved on foot to a school to the North of OOSTERBEEK. Those who were unable to walk were carried by the others. I was carried the whole way by S/Sgt. COBBOLD, of my Squadron. At the school the walking wounded were marched away under heavy escort, and I saw none of them again. The remainder had their wounds dressed by the medical orderlies and a Catholic padre. The German doctor arrived and wanted to shoot us, because, according to him, the British had shot his wounded in ARNHEM hospital. The padre talked him out of it. None of us had had any food for two days, except a bar of chocolate which I had with me, and we asked for food. The Germans said they had none, but eventually produced a black loaf and a jar of apple preserve. They said they wanted to take us to ARNHEM hospital, but had no petrol. This seemed to be true, as I had seen several German motorcycles being pushed along.
At about 1600 hours, L/Cpl EGAN, Parachute Regiment, was brought in, shot through the chest, above the heart. He died in a few minutes. At about 2200 hours a lorry arrived and took two loads of wounded to ARNHEM (E 77). Next day (20 Sep) the twenty remaining patients, including six stretcher cases, were taken by lorry, via back roads, to ARNHEM. On arrival at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, ARNHEM, we were told that there was no food, dressings, or water. However, a young Dutch girl had us bread, coffee, and peppermints, and brought us a cigarette each.
After about two hours in the hospital, we were moved in captured British 2nd Army trucks to a hospital in APELDOORN (Z 70). We were guarded by one sentry only, on the journey, but since I was not able to walk, I did not attempt to escape. The hospital was full up, so we were directed to the summer palace of Queen WILHELMINA, at HET LOO (Z 7806) which had been turned into a German hospital. We were taken in and stripped naked. All our clothes were taken away, and only personal kit left. I managed to hide my compass and map, though the francs were taken away. English money was put into an envelope, with the owner's name on it, and all invasion money was confiscated. Pay books were also collected. We were given a hot shower, and a suit of conspicuous blue and white stripes, and taken to the Queen's Suite on the first floor, where we met other British wounded.
An hour later we were taken downstairs to the surgery to see Doctor HANSA (rank between Lieutenant and Captain). He asked for our rank and number, and looked at my wound. He put an aquaflavine dressing on it, and tied it up with paper bandage. Medical supplies were obviously very scarce, and the only medicaments available were aquaflavine, cod liver oil ointment, and coal tar ointment. A cod liver oil dressing had to last four days. At 1930 hours we received our first hot meal in HOLLAND. It consisted of a sort of vegetable soup with hawthorn (?) leaves in it, black bread, and acorn coffee. After this meal I was very sick.
During the first week here I saw very little, as I was confined to bed, but a lady from the Dutch Red Cross brought us books, cigarettes, cards, games, metal combs, razors and one toothbrush to every fourth man. I did not get a toothbrush. We were getting the B.B.C. news from a Dutchman in the kitchen. There was in charge of us a German medical orderly who spoke good English. He told us that the British 1st Airborne Division had been annihilated.
About 29 Sep 44 Lieutenant GRIFFITHS, Sgt. MANSA, and two other men escaped from the hospital. They were helped by the Dutch underground movement. At 0800 hours next day the orderly came round and told us that these four had escaped and that we would be punished. That day about 40 of the fittest patients were evacuated, and the guard was doubled. A much closer watch was kept over us, we received no news, and when the Dutch lady came again we were only allowed to receive books. Among them was a book called "Wandering in Holland" which contained a map. This map was copied by Major COKE, Kings Own Scottish Borderers.
I was now able to walk fairly well, though not for any distance and I walked with a far worse limp than was necessary. I took charge of the kitchen squad who went to fetch the meals and to peel the potatoes, etc. The system of getting meals was as follows. Six men and I went with a little German orderly to the kitchens and carried up the food in containers. I used every opportunity to steal food from the kitchen. The German officers had white bread, and I often stole loaves, also honey, extra butter, tomatoes, and occasional cigarettes. Our rations were good in comparison with civilian rations.
About 9 Oct we were given our clothes and told that the remaining British were going to GERMANY. About 11 Oct we were told we were moving to a monastery on the German frontier, and all except 13 of our men went that day, with a German advance party. They were sent by rail from APELDOORN.
On 11 Oct I approached Major COKE, who had agreed to come with me if he could get his boots. Previously, after complaining of lack of exercise, we had been allowed an hour's walk in the park each day, and for this outing we were given our boots. After exercise the boots were taken in again, but we had managed to retain some of them, and the difference in numbers had not been detected. Major COKE had acquired a dark green uniform jacket as issued to the Dutch workmen at the Palace. I had stolen a complete suit of this uniform from the potato cellar.
On 12 Oct we timed the sentries patrolling outside the Palace, and we had found that they passed as follows:- 25 mins, 10 mins, 15 mins and 5 mins. It was a dark night and suitable for the attempt, but at 2330 hours firing broke out in the forest, so we cancelled our plans.
Next day (13 Oct) Major COKE met a Dutchman who gave us directions. He told us to cross the 50 yards of lawn, go into the wood, then over a wall into the village of HET LOO and give six taps in groups of two on the door of the first house. We were told to go on 14 Oct. This night proved to be very light. The sentries failed to come at the expected times, and the doctors and nurses were having a party in the room below. At 2330 hours we lowered a fire-hose out of the window and I climbed down. I landed on what I thought was the ground, but I was actually on the window sill of the nurses' dining room. My elbow struck the window, and a nurse screamed and ran across the room. I thought she had heard me, so I climbed up again. We hid the hose and got into bed.
3. ESCAPE.
Next day (15 Oct) we received six Canadian Red Cross parcels between 13 of us, this gave us food for our journey. On the night of 15 Oct at 2245 hours we decided to go. I had asked other men to come with us, but they did not think their wounds would stand it. It was raining hard and blowing. Major COKE, Sgt. FREEMAN, and I lowered the hose and climbed down, landing safely. We gave two tugs on the hose to have it hauled up again, and ran across the lawn to the wood. We found the wall, crossed it, and arrived at the house in HET LOO.
We were taken in, and were given directions to an address on the AMERSFOORT road. We got completely lost through wrong directions, so decided to ask at a house. The second house proved helpful, and Major COKE was given more directions, which resulted in us finding the house all right. Though there was a light in one window, no one answered the door, so we decided to go along the road and hide if anyone approached. We had to take cover several times when German convoys came along, but we stayed on the main road, as we got lost in the forest once for 1½ hours.
We kept going until 0530 hours, 16 Oct, and then heard German sentries ahead of us. On going into the wood we found that the Germans were all round us, but we evaded them successfully and came out eventually on a track running East and West. At 0900 hours we met some Dutchmen who told us to go to the village of UDDEL (Z 6708). We asked a farm labourer to fetch the man we wanted to see, and while we were waiting a woman came and asked if we were German deserters. When we said we were English, she took us into her cottage and gave us coffee and potatoes, dried our clothes, and kissed Sgt. FREEMAN and me. Presently the wife of the man to whom we had been recommended, arrived. She was very suspicious, and thought we were German spies. When we had finally convinced her, she told us to stay where we were. If Germans came, we were to go into the woods.
On 17 Oct during the evening, the woman helper and a man brought us civilian clothes and took away those we were wearing. On 18 Oct we were taken into the woods and interviewed by another lady. She gave us news, questioned us as to our identity, and told us to leave that night if possible. On 19 Oct we had to hide in the woods as the Germans came to steal all the available bicycles. We helped the man with whom we stayed to dismantle and hide his cycle, also the sewing machine and all the blankets.
Next evening (20 Oct) the woman helper took us to meet our guide. He gave us mackintosh coats, and a piece of string to hold, and by this means he guided us for 7 km. through the forest. At 2115 hours we were met by two other guides who took us for 5 km. in a westerly direction. We arrived at a farm, where we met an American officer.
From this point our journey was arranged for us. FREEMAN and I reached the British lines at 0035 hours on 23 Oct. Major COKE, who was unable to walk, remained behind in enemy-occupied territory.
See also: Sgt Mahoney.