Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

George W. D. Bell diary and notes, 14 April 1917 - 8 May 1918
MLMSS 893/Item 1

[Page 1]
Original diary By G.W.D. Bell 16th Battalion A.I.F.
13 Months Captivity in Hunland

[Page 2]

The attached papers are the notes (diary) written by myself whilst a prisoner of war in Germany. I was wounded & captured at Reincourt near Bullecourt, France 11th April 1917. Handed over to the Dutch Military Authorities 8th May 1918. Arrived in England 14th May 1918. Disembarked at Fremantle Western Australia 23rd January 1919.

History of my diary
For the purpose of secreting my notes I have used ordinary British note paper. Firstly, I carefully opened the flat end of the tube to insert the notes. Secondly; When softened & tightly folded, the papers were easily inserted into the centre – or thereabouts – of an ordinary large tube of Colgates tooth past.

The paper was received by myself in a parcel from the Prisoners Department of the Australian Red Cross Society in London; the tooth paste was obtained in a similar manner. Very thin paper rapidly absorbs moisture, consequently, had I used same, the notes would have been too much mutilated for later reference. On the other hand had I used very thick paper my tubes would have increased – also this kind of paper will not fold suitably. So I have tried the ordinary note paper & have achieved excellent results. Of course, I had squeezed most of the paste from the tubes before enclosing the notes; leaving sufficient however, to beguile the Huns should they have made an inspection or rigid examination.

[Page 3]

These surprises are quite frequently perpetrated. For instance; I have known Germans to search every particle of clothing worn by a prisoner. On one memorable occasion, a Russian had stolen a pen knife & concealed it within the lining of his coat collar. This occurrance had been previously rumoured & ultimately the article was located & seized.

Knives of any description are forbidden property for prisoners. Plans & documents of various purport secured between the leather soles of boots, is a very common ruse.

I could name many intricate methods adopted by illustrious prisoners of every nationality. This procedure is I think, quite unnecessary to convince people of the validity of my statement regarding secret shrewdness. The Australian is by no means in the rear rank of the sagacious & clever men who have endured German impositions.

I am deviating somewhat from the original outline, so I shall continue the explanation necessary to describe my own method for concealing notes. Owing to the excessive moisture emanating from the paste I could not use either ink or indelible pencil. Obviously, notes of this kind would have been hopelessly obliterated ere I had cross the Dutch frontier.

Imminent danger is involved by keeping in one’s possession, a diary relating to Hun barbarisms. Periodically, I have been unfortunately,

[Page 4]

compelled to rewrite, condense & destroy my notes. Whilst the records continued to accumulate I was confronted with greater danger & difficulty in safely concealing the papers pertaining thereto. Moreover, I was considerably handicapped with my inability to secure additional large tubes of paste. Any common tube pastes would have suited my purpose.

However, had I maintained a larger number of tubes the action would have incurred more immediate danger of detection. These notes were re-written a few days prior to my departure from Germany.

My reason for using only one side of the paper was intended to avoid mutilation in the event of the tubes being squashed, or damaged in any way during transportation to Holland. Had the Huns discovered my scheme during my imprisonment I would have no doubt, suffered from prompt despatch to their "straffe Barracks" – Later Court Martial. Extreme, unpleasant punishment would have been imposed. Possibly, the Commandant would have ordered me to be instantly shot. Presumably as a spy or illicit enemy intelligence member. The Huns are always eager to invent a serious charge thus enabling them to convict a British prisoner, especially an Australian Volunteer. This is their own term.

I have met thousands of prisoners of each Nationality but have never heard of a man

[Page 5]

who had written a diary whilst a prisoner in Germany & succeeded in taking it accross the frontier – No doubt some men have met with success – Moreover, I have not yet learnt of a person using my method to conceal notes of any kind whatsoever.

My fully detailed narrative has been composed & written by myself & is based upon these notes. The experiences enumerated in my diary are precise & authentic right throughout. One or two omissions & a little variation is inevitable. No doubt these few dates & details are vaguely unintelligible to most readers - nevertheless I have experienced no difficulty in compiling the work, excepting the customary labour & mental strain essential to good results.

The success – if one may call it such – is entirely due to the trials – endured whilst in Captivity – being indelibly fixed in the back of my mind.

Without the diary notes my complete narrative would have been an impossible task to write in diary form.

Geo. W.D. Bell

LCpl,. Number 605
16th Battalion
Australian Imperial Force

[Page 6]

1917 11 April. Cap’ in Bullecourt stunt - 4th Div Wilks Temby & Kay in hole. 26 hrs in snow. Huns assembled & jeered ludicrously.

12th. taken from shell hole to [indecipherable] & en-route to [indecipherable] – camouflaged Baty’s. [indecipherable] . Badges razor boots stolen [indecipherable] for [indecipherable].

13th Rly Siding brutality robbed etc. 14th Entrained hospital. Watch stolen later. Vallenciences. Numerous wounded – crippled prisoners etc. Filthy beards ragged clothing. Weird Hun M.O. No attention . Sauer Kraut. Substitute coffee – 15th SM. McKenzie & Moore died thro neglect. Deathrate average 4. 16th [indecipherable]- 2 eggs fried bread. [indecipherable] frostbite severe. Leg is black swollen. blankets enclosed in fatty covering dogs butchered & cooked for patients. [indecipherable]. Beef & mutton unprocurable. [indecipherable]. 3 Huns 2 nurses & 4 Russians, 3 tables operating [indecipherable]. Paper bandages & no wool.

Prussian night ward cruelly treated. Ellis 14th Batt’ & then relief. [indecipherable] able to walk retaliated. 18th Bread tea excitement caused by Russians. 19th taken to Hun lazarett for Xray numerous French girls working in the hospital. French women endeavouring to give me Cigs Huns intercepted with rifles. Women cried. Nearing the hospital several girls came up then kissed me. 20th. No literature obtainable seldom sleep 3 hrs in 24. 21st. Usual monotony. 22nd Transfer to Hunland of men fairly fit. food breakfast cup of coffee 9.30am 6ozs black bread. noon dinner bowl saur kraut of sweede in hot water.3pm coffee. 6pm Hot Water & 2 spoons barley. Dog or horse flesh is occasionally issued [indecipherable].

Offered 40 Franc bread. Russians steal & jam 6 marks. Soap unprocurable, ½ tabs cost 4 marks. Cigs French 1½ each. Men mostly robbed earlier. 23rd Hun [indecipherable] exchange money 15 ½ marks = 20 Francs = accurate value 22 marks. Russians scrape floor cigarettes. 24th Knee improved. Scotch remark. Well lads yell have the usual [indecipherable] today, numbering three, bread issue, Doc’s visit, dinner – craving for food. Btsh aeroplane bombed town. returned safe. 25th. 2nd dressing. xrays exam. Bone is split – Tibial head. Russian operation whilst waiting. 30 fragments bone operation half hour without anaesthetic. Same used only exceptional cases. 26th Cards issued. asked Interp – he stated why do you ask if the cards are allowed through. (later discovered these cards are destroyed. All my relations no news. 27th Rumours of transfer to Germany. Severe cases exempt. 28th numerous fresh cases from retaliation. 2 Lincolnshire Reg deliberately shot en route to work. broken limbs etc quite common.

[Page 7]

April 28. Sticks rifle butts & bayonet are also common. one of the lads shot in wrist by bullet that pierced heart of another man. received for stepping only 2 feet from the ranks to get cig end, whilst marching to work. March 10-12 kilometres to work. Limbs like broomsticks. under shell fire. French women assist when possible. top hats etc & the ludicrous costumes. many French women shot. Food for 24 hrs. 11 men to one small loaf dinner – nil – tea – bowl of greasy water & 10 pieces mangel wurzel- line raid canteen for food. Eat grass, bones & refuse. Every Sunday parade clothing. no soap or change of clothing intense cold. Wet clothes. this is deliberate cruelty by Commandant at Reprisal Camp. Sick men worked & then clubbed to work until unconscious, then hospital. many deaths thro this practice. Hindenburg line by British. Russians cement & gun emplacements. British & French wires. 29th. diary for Hun scrutiny. I use tube.

30th small party Hunland. Hun cas’ too numerous. Special trains Arras Sector. decomposed Sweedes.

1st May. temperature less. Little conversation.. Piece of grissel in my soup which I kept to chew later. Several men wards told me of additional Hun brutality. Many men have had no dressing at least 10 days. latrine buckets, [indecipherable], filthy beds etc. 2-3rd, had 3 dressings since arrive here. 4-11th usual routine. Craving for food. Frenchman returned from Germany told me of parcels in Hunland. No parcels or mail whilst in Retal’ Sector.. 12th local papers smuggled. News brief & distorted. aeroplanes – French people tortured. Hun language. 13th. Interpreter informed us of valuables & money - again refused by prisoners usual Hun trickery. 14th. Name appeared for transfer Germany. Much excitement of a transfer. Donnewetter & other expletives. Discovered Wilks when departing. Crippled Huns stretcher bearers. Gifts from Frenchwomen. Hospital train very comfy. nurses [indecipherable], she copied remarks. Then returned hospital, taken to another ward. Desperately hungry.

16-23rd. Inter volunteers information. [indecipherable], glasses, fair hair tipical Hun. also different M.O. very sarcastic & a bully. Wound septic. Fresh dressing since return. persistent requests ignored. 24-31st, 25th Pulled out of bed rough handling forced to walk. Struggled metre collapsed. 29th allowed to remain in bed. Ward similar pigsty. buckets overflowing [indecipherable] state repulsive, received small quantity horse flesh. pea soup. a general improvement in food.

1st June. Ideal climate. Many deaths thro inattention. 4 Australians. Lukis 16th Batt’n leg amputated without anaesthetic died. Muller 14th Batt’n died then – neglect. frostbite both feet off.

[Page 8]

1st June. Exceptional cases. I [indecipherable] eff v little bone dog flesh. Occasionally little white bread. 90% deaths [indecipherable] [indecipherable] Russians. 2nd usual ordeal. 3rd. Hun shortage – orderly ate bread of prisoners. Scotchman interpreting. 4th. Hun Generals inspection, much excitement. 5th. Large party for Hunland usual [indecipherable] amongst orderlies. Wilks – demanded to walk & illtreated. Hun attempted to strike girl with bayonet. I with others entrained in evening for Germany. 6th travelling in train. food improved. breakfast coffee 2 thin slices smeared with cheese. dinner bowl rice. tea – similar to breakfast. stopped Hanover & Berlin crowds people. crops good all soil under cultivation. crossed River Spree. Hundreds [indecipherable] factories near Berlin. 10pm 7th Arrived Stettin. Much excitement. 1am by tram to hospital. [indecipherable] Johannisthal. food riot. At J’s used [indecipherable] many civilians injured & killed. much debris in streets. Compelled to walk into hospital ward – 130 various nationalities. Milty monopolize all supplies. Russian 1914. Hun student operating theatre. Ravenously hungry. cards issued. Dobertz lager men returned for one Russian. 11th. Wound still septic. bandages for 6 weeks. 12th French Sgt voluntary – particulars for London. 13-20 – I only Englishmen in bed this ward. abominable sanitary – venereal cases. Russian orderlies. Thefts etc. no smokes for 10 days. Men collect leaves & fragments roll in bandage. Last day. before Hun specialist. 21-28th. I was X rayed 2 hrs in theatre. Ill treatment by Hun in X ray room. each morning at 8am in operating room. Hun nurses laughter. Women worse than the men. 29-30th. Transferred No. 7 hut informed of operation. weather glorious. Beer house in [indecipherable] time. lack of literature, beer issued on Sunday & men from reprisal in Russia receive empty packets. apparently stolen en route. 15th July. Hair not brushed since capture. 3 stone decrease. 2nd Received 2 cards from Copenhagen. 3rd. taken bath room. Hun, Russian Frenchman & Englishman. operation. 4-6th. V. ill. 7-10th. 7th dressed first time since operation. tube thru leg. 11th. two parcels. 12th. dressed. rough handling. 13-31st. food demolished. Instruments badly sterilized often used 6 cases. Johnson. many self imposed duties & kind acts.

1st August Strand Mag 1894. Russians escaped. Crippled posterns. 2nd-28th. Usual Hell. Men arrived in June received parcels.

[Page 9]

28th August. Parcels. 29-30th Aug My first parcel from England. Contents meat , jam, dripping, tea, sugar, milk, oxo &etc. Hundreds death thro starvation. White bread coffee again & Berne. Prevalence of consumption. No 9 Barrack numerous deaths. French a little assistance. Russians no assistance. Letters Miss Chomley.

31st. My second operation. Piece of Rubber 2 inches long found.

1st Sept. Transferred No-4 3–many limbless in next barrack. man in no mans land 6 days operating whilst awaiting my turn.

2nd–9th. Many parcels. Wound dressed. Asked Russian for more frequent dressings. Screams of other nationality. Warm bed to cold hall. Several cases pleurisy. 5 deaths daily. Swedes in abundance. 10th-17th. Wound unfavourable. 3rd operation necessary. possibility of amputation. Tommy amp. Nurses frivolity & heartlessness during his operation. Col Goldenberg & cognac. Companion wounded & new wounded privates. Cripps still living.

18-25th. Received clothing parcel 18th grocery 23rd. Second food since capture. Some have had 10 whilst others have none. bread in Winter biscuits in Summer. stale & often mouldy. biscuits hard. etc. Compatriots assist when necessary. Many parcels recently stolen. no direct evidence. 26th-30th Weather cool & boisterous. 27th. Visited No 3. repulsive odours &etc. Vermin &etc. 30th. Russian informed me of operation on 2nd [indecipherable].

1st October. Garden with officers. 7 off here receiving surgical treatment small allowance. Lubinsky purchases . 2nd. Operation & various unpleasant experiences – received two food parcels. choc & etc. 5pm transfer Hall. "Brass Buttons" Hun warden - & his devilry. 3rd-10th Very weak. Much bone removed. Hun surgeon’s cruelty. 9th informed led to be amputated if no improvement. Parcels placed conspicuously to annoy Huns. Food unprocurable Stettin. Various prices. soap ½ tab 2 marks . ¼ lb tea -5 marks & upw. boots 100 marks 1lb canned meat 8 marks, 1lb jam 5 marks 2lb bread 20 marks. &etc. Cannot sell or give. Maximum Hun punishment for pillage. to Western front. 11th Wound improves. Several French books. omission 10th July. marked Switzerland. Anticipated Spanish representatives. Old Bill ober inspector. cooking. 5pm favourite hour for preparing food. Russians in collision with Bill. His awful wrath & indignation. Rubbish &etc for fire.

[Page 10]

12th October. Photos 4d each by Frenchman & Hun. 12-41st 15/- monthly from London. Parcels deceased men. Hun women rations similarity. Russian Jews deceitful. 1st November. Snow storm- - wound healing. Chimpanzee transferred from ward Swei. 2-9th. Arrival Russian from Riga. Severe fighting treachery intrigue amongst their officers. Some receiving Hun money. Russians amuse me from either side. [indecipherable] 10-17th. Much snow about. new orders. food to be taken in bowls. Felfaber livid. Huns around the beds scrutinise. Maudie & his troubles. razor purchased 6 marks. 17-25th mail received by some men 6 weeks from England. £1 from Red Cross. Cigars 4d lemonade 2½ cigarettes 1 mk for 10. these purchasable. Wound improves , bed sores accustomed to vermin. 26-30th. Splint removed wore same for 5 months. Frequent visits from officers & distribution cigarettes purchased own all’ce. Russian murdered , Swei ward amputation nearly succumed. Lubinsky & Goldenberg transferred to Castle. New surgeon Ward Swei. Wound dressed alternate days. Hun student MO interest in complicated cases. 1st December. Monotonous life. Old Bill continues to worry all. Horse chestnuts substitute for milk & coffee. odious kitchen. potatoes barley & some meal , substitute for macaroni. I [indecipherable] my meat. 2-9th. Health improving. Lung congested this foul air. Hope to leave my bed shortly. Humiliating scenes [indecipherable] parcels Russians & Huns pester me. Donation of Rice, Sago &etc. They imagine parcel from America.

10th 9am. Old Bill visits ward. Kicking & hitting exhibition. 11th. Ventured out. collapsed. 12-19th. Managed 50 yds alone. Brass Buttons [indecipherable] transferred. Bandage forced down my throat. Old Bill PMG Stettin. 20-24th. 20th weighed 3-7 less. Improvement since receipt parcels. Letter from home the first. Xmas eve. Officers & self organised a concert. Much trouble with O.C. Scotchmen brought me bottle wine Xmas day. Huns supplied Xmas tree, creating much trouble & excitement in consequence thereof. The [indecipherable] meal [indecipherable] since capture. Main 2 ozs roast pork & boiled potatoes. Desert. Similar to jelly disposed to Russian orderly. bottle of lemonade apiece. I received special parcel from 16th Batt A.I.F. Many lads Swei ward without food. shared parcels. 1918 New Years day Wound healed almost. one man of 7th June party [indecipherable] member besides myself. Spanish Red Cross Representative recently visited us. Supposed to be a Hun [indecipherable]. Nerves frightful state.

[Page 11]

2nd-9th January. Weekly tour. Specialist & Co. Australian veteran. 18 years in Victoria. On the 9th marked out. 10-17th. My wound healed. Flying officer & Hun specialist. Uniform. departure. People & peculiarities in Stettin. Women – beer houses. Soldiers – poor people &etc. 3 sentries to guard 5 prisoners. 60% increase Altdamm 12 miles obsolete carriage 6 Russians & Huns. Journey & trails. Arrival camp 1-2-3-4. Camps. Hut & inconveniences. Johnson and Wilks. Lattrines &etc. 18-20th. Palliasse & rough filthy blankets. repulsive soups. M.O inspection marked Switz. thawing. Men 12 mon waiting. 21-31st. 600 arrivals from reprisal awful scenes. man who ate ravenously. towards the end of month additional numbers arrived. General conditions. Camp money. Canteen. rates of pay. Defaulters friends a Commando. Chemical fabrics. Rifle butting. Russians obtaining eggs &etc. Adulterated spirits. Breach of discipline. [indecipherable] & concerts. various nationality. Post, Gutteridge & Wilks. Johnson Hancock charge 5d. Musical requirements.

1st February. Approaching Spring. Bath &etc clothing stolen by Russian. trading clothing. 2-10th. Men returned under escort. 6 weeks bread & water. food smuggled. Sgt Gutteridge unsuccessful attempts to escape. 270 kilos & capture experience. Hun farmhouse recapture &etc. formidable Dutch frontier etc. [indecipherable] cooks & exchange of canned food.

11-17th. Literature. Church service & linguists. 18-28th. Bored. Russian [indecipherable]. Lack of medicine. Sick men. food struggle &etc. Barracks [indecipherable].Sunday excitement. Vermin. Lunch &etc. 1st March. Exchange party departure. Health uniform. concert . 2nd-10th. Anticipating repatriation. Double amputation. Bunter & Clarke. Straffe ordeal 48 hrs. Many large queues assembled in London to receive whatever food they could possibly get. During the struggle many people were injured. Those who managed to secure a bone thrown to them thro the bars of the window considered themselves very fortunate. The food controller in a speech stated that he could prolong the war to March if the strict economy was observed.

[Page 12]

11th March. Bridge. Monotony. Lcpl Hogan. 15th Batt’n Aus. Russian deaths 35. English 2. Self imposed duties. Sacrifice for others &etc. Grave lack of food & [indecipherable] 200 cases in camp. Russian monument. Hun outburst upon visiting Lazarette. 15th. Letter to Berne & London. bread parcels red cross benefit. disfigured photo. letters distorted. Hun censorship & unnecessary restrictions. New prisoners from Cambrai. Stettin Times & Berliner Tageblatt smuggled into camp. Mail destroyed. [indecipherable]. Newspapers suppressed. 7.30 orders. Unreasonable orderlies. Sick & others forcibly paraded. 250 men in strafe 4 days bread & water.

16-20th. Parcels ceased. Mark decreases. Parcel contribution at Limburg. Decomposed fish soups. Round the fences on Sundays. 5-7pm in the centre of camp awful spectacles. "Here lies the body of a good worker" – grave stone. Russian ordeals. [indecipherable]. My wounds inflamed. 21-24. Usual ordeal. 22nd. Arrest of interpreter. 24th. High tempt 25th. Sick parade ordered hospital. Schutzen Haus. 10 Russians & 2 English in room. Washed in tub after 5 filthy Russians. Hun rations again. 26th. 10am Hun surgeon’s visit & Russian. M.O. 27th. Operation without anaesthetic. Stretcher. 28-29th. Wound discharging freely. Weather nice, books & garden. No food. factory girls. 20th. Englishman murdered. Lack of nourishment. 31st. Usual ordeal.. 1st April. Sugar, soap & candles discovered here. Potatoes in cellar.

[Page 13]

1st April. Russian artfulness. Hun wrath. Amusing anecdotes. . Relief fund issue. 6 men to 1 egg. 15 men to 1 pkt chocolate. Ludicrous. 2-15th. Food parcel. 10th. Gardening . Stolen potatoes. Chemical fabrics accident serious cases. fires etc. Mania, starvation, cruelty etc on Commandos. Sunday foot traffic. Military traffic. Confirm iron substitute for rubber. Zeppelins on the 15th. People who converse. Postern. Children home &etc. 16-24 No parcels. 23rd Hun thunderstorm. Retaliation. Leceister Reg’t amputation caused by brutal treatment. 1914 Students. Russian exchanged. 24th arrival Portugese Cartoon. Hatred booklet. 25th My exit. Schwisse. 26-28th In readiness for departure. 29th arrival Altdamm Camp. Johnson & Wilks eligible for exchange. 30th. Parcels arriving. Much Hun excitement. Numerous orders regarding exchange.

1st May. Departure. Inspections etc. various experiences en route to Aachen. Co’pl at Altdamm Station. Berlin – Essen. Hanover. & - Aachen 2 – travelling. 3rd 8am Aachen. 2-4pm exercise. 5-8th Awaiting exchange. various characters & [indecipherable] Posterns etc. departure for Holland on 8th

[Transcriber’s notes:
Aachen is a German town about 400 miles SW of Stettin and is about 50 miles SW of Dortmund. It is about 2 miles from the Dutch border.
Altdamm is a suburb of Stettin (see below), in Poland
Lazarett (lazarette) is a hospital for infectious diseases.
Stettin is in Poland near the German border. It is spelled Szczecin in Poland.
Swede short for Swedish Turnip, is a yellow turnip.
The war records are not clear as to how well his leg recovered, however the word "invalid" does appear on his military record.]

[Transcribed by Miles Harvey and Rosemary Cox for the State Library of New South Wales]