TCD MS 10823 folio 26 recto
[April-Sept 1918] Life in the camp was far from intolerable & there were consequently few of us who were ready to run the risk of an attempt at escape. These could be divided into three classes, those whose thoughts turned that way and got no farther than thinking, those who thought and talked openly a great deal about escaping but did nothing, and those who said nothing but made their preparations in quiet and slipped away.
Before we came to the camp, no one had attempted to make an escape for many months, so that the sentries were lulled into security. Moreover it was not difficult to distract their attention. Soon after our arrival two officers succeeded in cutting the wire and slipping out without being noticed, when the gap was not discovered till the following morning. On this occasion it happened quite accidentally that the village tailor, a little dwarf about 4ft high and with eyes like a ferret was in the camp. We had nicknamed him Cuthbert and he always answered to this name. Someone had put him up onto the piano and made him dance there, a most extraordinarily funny sight, which was too much altogether for the sentries, who instead of watching the wire, were watching this performance. The wire <meanwhile was> cut and the two officers got away. Unfortunately they did not get far and were caught the following night.
The next attempt was made some little time later just as it was dark. My duty <on that occasion> was to keep one sentry occupied and so for