TCD MS 10823 folio 28 recto
[April-Sept 1918] On certain days in the week tradespeople from the town and occasionally a man from Tietz, the William Whiteley of Berlin, used to come up with hardware goods or with clothing for sale. A little chocolate proved the “Open Sesame” here and a compass and electric torch were provided at quadruple their cost, a very light waterproof and a ruck sac also in which to carry all ones food were also obtained in the same way.
In return for a few tins of food <one of the Germans who ministered to our health> provided all the maps that were required up to the frontier, and so gradually we obtained most of the articles required. There were several pairs of wire cutters in the camp, and for the occasion we could always borrow a pair.
The amount of food that had to be carried for the long journey was a great difficulty. The least bulky and the most nourishing food stuffs had to be collected. Horlicks Malted Milk Lozenges, Beef lozenges, Chocolate, Oxocubes, Biscuits and bacon proved the most important of these, and in fact were the only things that we could get. A pair of shoes to rest ones feet in during the day time, several pairs of socks, a good knife, some string, a flask with a little brandy, an air cushion to use as a water bottle, an electric torch and one or two minor articles completed the outfit. Edmondson and I had many <anxious> discussions as to how and where we should try to get out of the camp. After each former attempt to escape, an extra sentry had been put on at dark at that particular place, so we eventually decided to make an attempt in daylight. We were warned <by a friend in the town> however that we