Private Walfred Balduc
National Archives catalogue reference - WO 208/3328
Name: R.5488 Pte. Balduc, Walfred.
Unit: Royal 22nd Regiment, 1st Canadian Division.
Captured: Ste. Maria, 27th July 1943.
Liberated: Arnswalde, 3rd February 1945.
Left: Odessa, 7th March 1945.
Arrived: U.K., 29th March 1945.
Date of Birth: 22nd June 1917.
Date of Enlistment: 12th March 1940.
Private Address: 60 Clinton Avenue, Waterville, Maine, U.S.A.
1. CAPTURE.
I was captured at STE. MARIA (probably ITALY, 1:100,000, Sheet 145, 3488) in ITALY on 27 Jul 43.
2. CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED.
Campo No.66 (CAPUA) Aug 43 (1 month).
Campo No.74 (MODENA) Aug - 1 Sep 43.
18 Dec 43 - 20 Dec 43.
STALAG VII A (MOOSBURG) 28 Dec 43 - 16 Feb 44.
STALAG IID (STARGARD) Feb 44 - Feb 45.
3. ATTEMPTED ESCAPES.
(a) In Sep 43 I was imprisoned in Campo No. 74 (MODENA) (ITALY, 1:100,000, Sheet 86, 5666). After the Armistice with ITALY the Germans took over the Camp and doubled the guards because they were afraid that we would break out.
I had noticed that the ration truck arrived each evening in the Camp, so another British soldier (name unknown) and I planned to escape by unloading the truck and then leaving the Camp concealed in it.
One night in Sep 43 we left the Camp in the truck, jumped out about 2 kms. from the Camp and proceeded on foot.
The next morning a civilian shouted to us as we were climbing the wall of a cemetery about five miles from the prison Camp.
This man (name unknown) took us to the priest (name unknown) in the church, who got a barber to clean us up. He then supplied us with a basket of food, civilian clothing, a compass, a map of the district, and approximately 200 lira.
He wanted us to remain at his house until the Allies arrived, but our intention was to reach them as soon as possible, so we proceeded southward.
The second day I separated from my companion as he insisted on stopping at all farmhouses to try to obtain wine.
The following morning I caught a freight train going to ROME, on which I met five Italian soldiers who had deserted and who were going to join the Allies. On the outskirts of ROME we left the train and each one of us stole a bicycle at a factory nearby, which we used to rid through the city.
About 20 kms. south of ROME we saw some trucks loaded with prisoners, so the Italian soldiers decided they would have to leave me. Before they left they gave me food and cigarettes, and also wanted to give me money which, however, I refused.
While I was riding through a field on my bicycle to avoid German guards on the bridge, I was stopped by a civilian. He informed me that the Germans were searching the entire area for escape P/W, and that it would be impossible for me to get through. He put me in his barn for a night and next morning gave me breakfast and then drove me in his wagon to the railway station where he arranged with a brakeman to put me on a train to REGGIO NELL EMILIA (Sheet 74, 3574).
The brakeman gave me a list of the stations I would pass through and advised me to contact any civilian working in the railway yards at REGGIO NELL EMILIA, where I would receive further assistance from them.
I left the train at REGGIO NELL EMILIA and climbed over an embankment where I saw seven Italian soldiers, some of them in civilian clothing. They informed me they were trying to reach SWITZERLAND and that two other members of the party would join them with food, drinks and other supplies. We boarded a train the next day, travelling in a westerly direction.
Two days later we reached a town just this side of the Swiss border (name unknown) where we left the train, and the ten of us proceeded on foot.
We walked about six hours when dogs began to bark and shots were fired in our direction. We split up and I had two Italian soldiers hid in an empty house until the following day, when we returned to the town and caught another train going south. We left the train at a small village (name unknown) where the Italians separated from me after giving me food and cigarettes.
After leaving the Italians I started walking through the fields. About three hours later I was stopped by an Italian woman who took me to her home and gave me water with which I could wash and shave. She also gave me civilian pants, shirt, socks, and a new pair of shoes. Her son came in and took me to the barn where I spent the night. The next day they would not let me go because they were afraid that I would be captured. I spent the next six weeks with this family, during which time they fed me well, supplied me with all I needed. At the end of this period I heard how another family about 20 kms. away had been punished for harbouring Allied soldiers, so I left, much against the wishes of this family.
I proceeded to REGGIO NELL EMILIA as I heard that there were some Partisans in the mountains. I stole a bicycle and spent four days in the mountain looking for these Partisans, spending each night at the home of an Italian family (name unknown).
On the morning of the fifth day I was arrested by two Carabinieri. I was taken back by them to MODENA, where I was put into a garage, together with approximately 300 escaped and recaptured P/W, all in civilian clothing.
After three days we were shipped by train to STALAG VII A (MOOSBURG) (GERMAN, 1:250,000, Sheet M.49, Z 19) near MUNICH.
(b) During Jan 44 I was working in a hospital near MUNICH, from which I intended to escape alone. I stored up a small supply of Red Cross food and had received a suit of civilian clothing from a Frenchman, which I wore under my uniform. From another Frenchman I received a map and a compass.
On 28 Jan 44 I made my escape at about 1000 hrs by walking away from my job. The Frenchman had bought a ticket for me to a small station (name unknown) about 10 kms. outside MUNICH. My intention was to walk to SWITZERLAND.
When I left the station (possibly MINTRACHING (Y 97), I was stopped by a German soldier and asked for an Ausweis. I was arrested and taken back to STALAG VII A, where I was not punished, but returned at once to the working party.
(c) About 5 May 44, whilst on a Working Party about 12 kms. south of PYRITZ (Sheet O.54, Q 72) I decided to escape. I had three companions with me, Sgt. Bill LEE, R.C.E., Sgt. Syd CLEASBY, R.C.E., and Pte. C. FUCCEN. The sergeants had exchanged identities with Ptes. at STALAG II D and were working on the Working Commando. We had dug a tunnel from our sleeping quarters to a shed outside, which took us about a week.
We were well stocked with Red Cross food, maps, and compass. Our intention was to go to STETTIN (Q 55), where we had heard that a train loaded with potatoes was to leave for FRANCE. We intended to board this train and make contact with the Underground movement in FRANCE.
On 5 May 44, at about 2300 hrs, we went through the tunnel, out the wire in the fence and got out, evading the guard by timing him on his round.
We marched across a field in a north-easterly direction towards STETTIN, always marching during the night and sleeping by day.
On the second night we lost our compass and began to walk around in circles until we reached a place about 10 kms. south of STETTIN. We decided to go into a small town and board a freight train for STETTIN. We entered this town (name unknown) at about 1100 hrs on 10 May, went to the freight yard, and approached a Serbian labourer working there. He advised us to leave at once, since we would otherwise be picked up. We slept for the rest of the day and kept on through the night towards STETTIN.
On 12 May, whilst marching through a town very close to STETTIN (name unknown), we were stopped by a guard, and as we could not supply identity papers, were arrested. We tried to bribe him with Red Cross food and cigarettes to no avail. We were taken to a civilian jail from where we were returned to STALAG II D and all received 21 days solitary confinement.
(d) In Aug 44 whilst working on the railway in FREIENWALDE (R 06) I again decided to escape. With me was Pte. MILWOOD of the Essex Scottish Regt. On 16 Aug MILWOOD escaped at about 0700 hrs and I escaped at 0900 hrs. We both had civilian clothing which we had received from a Frenchman.
We had made arrangements to go to the address of a Frenchman in STARGARD, where we would be given the address of a helper in STETTIN.
I stole a bicycle in FREIENWALDE and went to STARGARD, where I met Pte. MILWOOD at the Frenchman's house. He gave us the address and told us that he had to meet a man wearing a white flower on a certain date in STETTIN. He also said that he would inform this man of our arrival. At the same time this Frenchman in STARGARD supplied us with railroad tickets to STETTIN. Unfortunately, we took the wrong train, travelling in separate compartments to DANZIG instead of STETTIN.
On arrival at DANZIG that same evening, MILWOOD was caught and taken back to STALAG II D. I did not know this until five days after my recapture and return to STALAG II D.
In DANZIG I took another train back to STETTIN, but left the train at BELGARD (Sheet O.55, M 43) because there was an identity check on the train and I had to move from coach to coach.
I left the station and went to a French working Camp for one day and two nights. On 18 Aug I received another railway ticket from a Frenchman to take me back to STETTIN. Whilst in the train I did not notice German officials making another identity check until it was too late to avoid them. When asked for me papers which I could not produce, I was arrested and sent back to STALAG II D, where I received 21 days solitary confinement.