In 1995, Eric Gallagher published his record of his experiences in the long march from Poland to Liberation. He did this to mark 50 years since the events. Unfortunately Eric died a couple of years ago, and I obtained permission from his two sons to publish this on this site. Eric was a member of the 20th Battalion of the 2nd NZEF. He had served in Greece, Crete, and Western Deseret before his capture. He ended u p in Sosnoweic , Poland working in a coal mine. Quote from the Christchurch Press, January 21 1995. “Determined that the 98 day march and suffering of the marchers would be remembered, Eric Gallagher kept his diary. Using a large scale map that he managed to keep hidden from the guards, he has able to plot each days march to the minutest detail. Any notions of romanticism about the journey must be quashed he (Eric) says. I want to relate only the bare facts because, even with the most fertile imagination, nobody could recreate the reality of the live we lived.”
Kiwi Thanks for sharing this narrative. I work outside all winter in conditions like this properly dressed and fed. but even as a kid with cold feet and fingers I cant imagine not being able to go in and get warm. There were 100's of thousands on the road of both Eastern and Western Germany that winter as PoW's and refugee's were pulled back into the heart of Germany in advance of the allies final push. Matt
