THE LONG WALK HOME

di Frank Simms

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Before we crossed the ridge we met some more shepherds, who, after a while, gave us half a loaf of bread. We then went on towards the generous farms. The woods on the range were full of cattle being hidden, and some fugitive boys gave us six big potatoes, which we kept in reserve. Later we came to the farmhouses, and at each we were refused even maize, though the ceilings of all Italian peasant kitchens are hung thick with the yellow cobs.

After a while we met a man who told us that the Sangro valley was full of Germans and advised us to "stop at once if challenged, as otherwise they shoot". He did, however, offer to take us home and give us a meal, but we decided his house was rather out of the way. We went on towards a village perched precariously on top of a rock, and near it we met three women. They offered us food in their house in the village. We considered this too dangerous also, so they said they would bring it out to us in the wood. About an hour later they returned with two big pieces of bread and a piece of cheese. There was a road below us, and while we ate, their brother, aged about eighteen, gave us a route which ultimately proved quite wrong. Suddenly a German lorry came up the road; we all fled farther into the wood. The girls were sent to reconnoitre and the brother went farther off. Later, the girls came back, giving the usual two-note whistle used by Italians in these circumstances. The Germans could have caught any number of them by going into a forest and giving this whistle. Their brother would not be coming back, but would like our names (presumably for the promised reward). We gladly gave them, and they left.

The route we had been given led us along by some precipitous marble cliffs. Fortunately we met a woodcutter who had been a prisoner in Egypt, and he gave us a route at right angles to the one we were following, crossing the Sangro and going up through a wood over the next range, leaving Capracotta well to the west; then it was only four hours’ easy descent to Agnone.

At first we had to keep on crossing a road as we descended. We were approaching a group of houses, when it began to rain, and some peasants ran out to us to beg us to enter their house and were amazed at our refusal. Soon we found a culvert under the railway, with two old women sheltering under it. After a quick look, much to their amazement, we waded straight into the river, which was waist deep and very fast. However, we were already so wet that the water seemed quite warm.

• P. Medd e A. Kimmins, The Long Walk Home: an Escape Through Italy, Lehmann, London 1951.

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