“Sergeant Dennis,” Rushton raised his voice, his face flushed with anger. Doyle started to come forward but Rushton shook his head.
“It is up to me to decide if what you tell me is the truth. For all I know you may be a deserter.”
Alf jumped up out of his seat.
“That’s not true Sir. We are not….”
Doyle came forward and grabbed Alf by the arms, restraining him.
“Sergeant Dennis. It is my duty to remind you that we serve in the king’s army and that we are gentlemen. Please try to act like one. This insubordination is wholly unacceptable. If you continue to behave in this manner I shall have no alternative to place you under arrest and refer you to a higher command for trial.”
Alf went limp in Doyle’s arms. The fight gone out of him now.”
“I’m sorry Sir. I’ve just been through a lot lately.”
“That’s no excuse. Try to act like a professional.”
“I’m sorry Sir.”
Doyle released his grip.
“We have all been through a lot sergeant. Doyle here has recently lost his brother. My home in Coventry was recently bombed. My wife and children barely got out alive. It was two months before I found out.”
Alf stood humbled.
“Now please retake your seat.”
Alf sat.
“I’m trying to help you. I am not your executioner sergeant. No. You will hang yourself unless you tell me what I need to know.”
“Where shall I begin Sir?”
“In the beginning.”
’Where shall I start,” Alf was asking himself “Does he want to know about my parents, grandparents? They were just ordinary people. My father served in the navy but he died when I was small. Ordinary lives. Nothing much to tell.’ Alf decided to tell Rushton about himself. ’If he wants to know the rest he’ll ask.’
“Before the war I was a carpenter. None of my family before, had been. I was just naturally talented. Then of course like many I was called up for national service, did my basic training. Then I was enlisted into the Royal Engineers because of my skills. I first saw action in North Africa as part of the eighth army. My unit was sent to Matmata here in Tunisia to repair a heavily damaged road. You see, a column of Valentine tanks had left the road because of its condition and driven through a Wadi when it had started raining. It rained hard through October and the tanks had become bogged down. My unit and I were sent in to repair the road and aid the stricken tanks if possible. We arrived in the town and almost instantly found two dead German infantrymen with their throats cut shoved down a well. We quizzed a local who told us that a group of British had passed through and found the two Germans. We were told they wore uniforms with S.A.S on them. I assume that it was members of your team,” Alf said smiling.
Rushton stared back coldly.
“I’m afraid I couldn’t possibly comment. Do go on.”
The cold hostility shook Alf.
‘What the hell does he want from me? Aren’t we fighting for the same side?’
“Well shortly after the S.A.S left a convoy of Germans came through the town. The two were caught and murdered by their own side. Like I said we arrived and discovered them. Then unbelievably that very afternoon we were fired upon by two American fighters and took some casualties.”
“How bad?”
“Some wounded. A few killed. I lost a very close friend.”
Rushton gave Alf a moment.
“Could I have some water please Sir.”
“Of course. Doyle if you would oblige.”
Doyle left and was back shortly with the drink. Alf took a swig. His throat becoming parched.
“Then our reserves arrived. There were a group from the 4Indian army led by a Major Basil Shaw. They had been sent to clear mines.”
Alf took another sip of water.
“It wasn’t long before the German’s returned Sir. There was a large explosion out of town. I sent a truck to investigate. Well it was the Germans Sir. There followed a gun fight and we lost many men. Mostly the Indians. Shaw was killed, private Larder, who is a marksman, was hit by a Panzerschreck. I myself was hit by a sniper.”
Alf began to unbutton his shirt to show the wound. Though Rushton had already briefly once seen the injury he allowed Alf to show it again.
“I see,” he said “So you were hit from the front.”
“Yes,” Alf swivelled on his chair and pulled his shirt off his shoulders. The scar at the back was four times the size of the one at the front.
“It was a sniper. Private Larder killed him before he was hit. I was lucky Sir. The bullet narrowly missed my lung.”
“And you say Private Larder was hit by a Panzerschrek. It’s a wonder he wasn’t killed.”
“It exploded by a wall next to his head. The scarring he has is from mortar and brick shards. He is very lucky to be alive Sir.”
“Yes I can’t deny that you’ve both been through a lot. Please continue.”
“The Germans rounded us all up. There was a Colonel of army and a Major of SS. The Major was going to hang Larder despite our protests. Then suddenly, miraculously, more Germans arrived. Tanks this time, and a saloon car and incredibly out stepped Field Marshall Erwin Rommel Sir.”
Rushton, who had been leaning back in his chair looking up at the ceiling, trying to picture the scene now suddenly sprang forward as his chair came down on all four legs.
“Field Marshall Rommel?”
“Yes Sir.”
“The supreme commander of the German forces North Africa division.”
“The very one.”
Rushton nodded while jutting out his chin.
“Impressive. What did he do or say?”
“Naturally he took control instantly. He declared us all prisoners of war. If it wasn’t for him I’m sure the SS Major would have killed us all.”
“So you are saying you were saved by the Field Marshall.”
“Yes Sir I strongly believe that.”
“Incredible soldier. Remarkable man.”
Alf finished the water.
“More?”
“Yes please.”
Doyle took the empty flask. Now Alf and Rushton were alone.
“So then you were detained?”
“Yes German field hospital no4.”
“I know of it.”
“We were held there until we escaped.”
“First tell me about the camp and hospital, its strengths, weaknesses, just about everything you can think of, anything you feel will help me in my job. Perhaps later you’d be kind enough to tell me about your escape.”
“Of course Sir.”
“What was the camp like? Its size. Those that guarded it. Its defences. Locale.”
Rushton took a clean sheet of paper and a pencil and wrote the date at the top. Then he began to take notes.
“The camp had been hastily constructed and consisted of tents for the P.O.W.s surrounded by barbed wire. There was one sentry tower which covered the main gate with a single MG42. You see Sir there wasn’t any need for much more than that. Even if you could escape there was only desert to run into. Nowhere to hide. The Germans would catch you so easily and kill you on sight. The hospital which was also just tents was segregated from the P.O.W.s by more barbed wire. We were treated well. Both our time in hospital and as a P.O.W. though naturally we weren’t given the same rations as the German forces. We were kept in a weakened state so that we couldn’t rise up against them….” Alf noticed a slight look of impatience flicker across Rushtons face. Rushton opened his mouth to speak but a thought hit Alf.
“Perhaps Sir I could draw you the camp, its plans, you know an overhead, birds eye view.”
“Good idea. I’ll get you paper and pencils, later if you please.”
“Yes Sir. May I ask Private larder to help me Sir. He may remember something I have forgotten.”