POW diaries - Captain Percival Lowe, item 73

• June 21, 2017 03:35:55 L Brittain

                                                                                             38.
  

  
  

  Citadel
  

  A pack of watch dogs were kept in a shed in what I call
  

  the neutral ground.
  

  The winter of 1914-1915 held on a long time.  The thaw being gradual, frost
  

  by night +sun by day.  Easter passed with the usual amount
  

  of bell ringing.  In April it was possible to sit out in the
  

  sun + read.  In the beginning of May a great change took
  

  place.  Apparently the new General took over command of the
  

  Magdenburgh army corps.  He came round accompanied by a
  

  large dog.  The immediate result of this visit was that we
  

  were at once allowed to smoke and also to receive the
  

  contents of our parcels.  It was the commencement of an

  entirely new regime.  The neutral ground was to be opened
  

  for both establishments.  We were to construct a tennis
  

  court on it.  This work was almost immediately taken in
  

  hand + was carried out by fatigue parties of the English.
  

  In the mean time a wire fence was being put around the
  

  neutral ground.  We did not commence work till the
  

  outer ring was completed.  Until the completion of the court
  

  this ground was closed.  But the sentries had the order
  

  to pass all English out to work on the court.  Von
  

  Gutz did not long survive the Generals visit.  He was
  

  succeeded by the the Admiral.  I have no complaints to find
  

  with him.  He did all in his power I think to ease our lot but of course when
  

  officers escaped we were punished in the German way.  In
  

  course of time my watch was returned.
  

  The Citadel had now been abolished as being unsuitable
  

  for a camp, and my brother officer had been sent to
  

  various camps in Germany.  One of my two English room
  

  mates was sent away + the other soon followed the
  

  
  

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