Mexborough and Swinton Times May 19 1917
Four Days a Prisoner
West Melton Man’s Trying Experience
Released by “Tanks”
Sgt R South (K.O.Y.L.I.)
Fearnley Cottages, Nokes Buildings, West Melton, has been invalided to England, and is now in the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich, recovering from wounds and the shock of an extraordinary experience.
He has been three times wounded; on July 13, 1915 at “Hill 60,” on September 26, 1916, on the Somme, and on April 10, 1917, in the zone of current operations.
He writes us as follows: “I got wounded on April 10, and at the same time I was taken prisoner, and the Germans had me four days. It was like being in hell. We couldn’t get a drink of water from them. Every German that came by me put his hands in my pockets, and took all he could get hold of. They even cut off portions of my clothing.
We had taken their trench, and soon after they made a counter-attack and got it back. At the same time they got me, as I was lying in the bottom of the trench helpless.
After the German doctor and in my dressing, he put me down in the bottom of the dugout and laid me on my side, where I stayed for days without anything to eat or drink.
On the fourth day our lads began their advance, headed by the “Tanks” and were very successful. The 1st to get to us was a squad of bombers, who threw bombs down the dugout, but luckily for me they did not take effect.
After hearing me shout, the bombers came down the dugout and brought me water, which put new life into me, and immediately after they brought a stretcher and took me out of it.”