Mr. Malcolm Macmillan (Calum Chalum Iain Bhig) formerly of 33 Gravir has posted the following information to the site.

Mr Macmillan was a prisoner of war in Italy during World War II and following his repatriation he allowed the Stornoway Gazette to print brief extracts from the diary/journal that he kept during his time there.

We are thankful to Mr. Macmillan for allowing us to reproduce this information from his diary/journal on this site.

A vivid impression of life in an Italian prison camp is given by a diary kept by Sig. M Macmillan, R.N. of 33 Gravir, covering the 6 months from 14^th Sept. 1942 till 21^st March 1943.  Signalman Macmillan was recently repatriated under an exchange agreement and we are privileged to give these brief extracts from the tattered Italian jotter which served him as a notebook and diary;

 

Malcolm Macmillan (Calum Chalum Iain Bhig)

4^th Sept 1942. Dawn finds us off Tobruk, entered in a duel with the shore batteries. We were hit again and again and although the old ship stood up to it magnificently we had to abandon her at 7.30 am The inaccuracy of the gunfire was a menace to the survivors in the water and stray shells and bombs fell among the rafts and swimmers and I saw one raft hit by a heavy projectile. About 9.30. we were picked up by a German lighter and landed at Tobruk. Here we were searched and questioned while still in our wet clothes which, in my case, consisted of a pair of khaki shorts and a pair of socks. After waiting some hours we were each given a small tin of meat and a biscuit. Then we were taken by lorry to Derna where we arrived at 10pm and found we had to sleep on the sand in an open tent with no blankets and no clothes but what we had on when captured. Fortunately I was given a jersey by a prisoner who had more clothing than I had.

15^th Sept Up long before dawn to get circulation back after the coldest and most uncomfortable night I have ever experienced. Given a drop of ersatz coffee at 9am and at midday half a tin of meat and a biscuit and a half. At night a few spoonfuls of macaroni composed the meal. This routine continued for three days during which time a few articles of clothing were issued but I was still without boots when I left Derna

18^th Sept.. Left Derna early and arrived Benghazi about 9pm and each given a mat to sleep on.

19^th Sept Rations slightly better and given a blanket. Cigarettes were issued occasionally on the basis of three a day but often not given. Next day we sailed on a ship called Ravallo.

2^nd October. We put into Piraius for repairs and on the way were involved in a collision with a water boat which sinks. Passed through the Corinth Canal in the evening and noticed a German destroyer in Patna harbour.

4^th Oct. Entered Taranto harbour on the second anniversary of my joining the Navy. The Italian Navy certainly looks formidable. Six battleships and many cruisers and destroyers are to be seen but 22^nd March 1942, in the gulf of Sirte, showed that they were not all that strong.

5^th Oct ..Left Ravallo. Got a bath and short haircut very short rations today... half a tin of meat and one biscuit. Arrived at Camp 51 (Altemura) about 9.30 pm. Under canvas again with two blankets (small) Night not as bad as 14^th Sept.

.6^th Oct Up very early. Warmer walking than lying in blanket on cold ground Forenoon roll call lasted a very long time. The first Red Cross parcels arrive, distributed daily, one among seven men and they allow us to live like Britons and not like *Wops. All tins are punctured to prevent them being hoarded

19^th Oct. We are told we leave camp 51 domani (tomorrow) and for six weeks are kept in expectation of a sudden shift. Camp 51 was a transit camp and we should not have been there longer than a fortnight.

20^th Oct 1000 Indian prisoners arrive at the camp and "Wall Street" opened. That is where we exchange articles from the red cross parcels with the Indians for their meat dishes as they cannot eat meat without knowing what animal it came from.  Besides food parcels the Red Cross Society also issued greatcoats and undervests and a regular supply of cigarettes. The Italians gave us some clothing, including a much-needed third blanket, and two square pieces of linen which Italian humour called a pair of socks. Their occasional issue of cigarettes was not in accordance with their understanding with the British government

18^th November. Wops still promise to move us Domani.

30th Nov. Time of leaving changed from domani to Frapoco tempo and I have a hunch they mean it this time as an envoy from the Vatican visited us and was displeased with condition of the camp and carried a report of his displeasure to Pope Pius XII.

4^th December. Yes they did mean it and we leave Altemura about 4pm. Instead of the cattle trucks we travelled in from Taranto we were now put in third class carriages. Given usual travelling ration. They do their best to prevent hoarding of Red Cross food by piercing a hole in each tin when they give us our parcel but fortunately some of my tins had escaped that attention.

5^th Dec Reached camp 70 (Monturana) about 5pm. Away from canvas at last. Slept in brick building. Given two small blankets and a paliasse but have to wait till morning for straw. Still sleeping on the floor but concrete is a big improvement on the filthy sandy soil of Altemura. Rations at camp 70... Coffee in the morning and two "skillies" one at mid-day and one at 5pm. (A skilly was a sort of vegetable or macaroni soup with a little rice and very seldom a very small (about 1cc) piece of meat). Instead of the meat we sometimes got cheese. Red Cross parcels were distributed , one between seven, but owing to transport difficulties issue was cut to every second day. Chef, Jim and I formed a partnership with the parcels and as Chef got his parcel that day we started right away sharing his parcel between the three of us. Chef is Frederick Cook from Newcastle and Jim Boyne is from South Shields.