7th
June 1940
Lost In Norway For A Month
Reported
Missing: Now Home - Narrow
Escape for Local Soldier
A
dramatic story of his ordeal in Norway after a narrow escape from German
forces can be told by a local soldier, Private G. Perrin, formerly of
Carleton and now of Banks Avenue, Pontefract, who arrived home this
week.
Private
Perrin, who is in the K.O.Y.L.I., was drafted to Norway from France, and
in the fighting there became separated from his regiment. With a small
party of other soldiers, he found civilian clothes in bombed and
deserted houses and changed into them. Unfortunately they were met by a
strong German patrol, taken prisoner, and put into a bus. Norwegian
soldiers, who were among the party, feared they were to be taken to a
neighbouring centre and shot. An incident during the journey, however,
gave a chance to Private Perrin which he immediately seized, and made
good his escape.
Completely
without knowledge of his whereabouts, he put as much distance between
himself and the bus as possible; and then, for a week on end, he
wondered through the Norwegian mountains, which were covered deeply with
snow, alone. Here and there he found natives, who gave him food and
drink, and helped him on his way, in spite of the German threat that
civilians helping in that way would be shot. At the end of the week he
was able to make contact with other soldiers, and for three more weeks a
party of them continued their hazardous and trying journey. Again the
natives came to their aid at intervals with food and sleeping
accommodation, without which help the wanderers could not have survived.
Ultimately they found themselves on an island, and were able to board a
Norwegian fishing boat, which set out across the North Sea to bring them
home. Still their troubles were not yet ended, for the vessel broke down
off the Shetland Isles. A British trawler took it in charge, however,
and all the men were safely landed.
Private
Perrin was the leading choir-boy at Carleton Parish Church for some
years, and is well known in the village.
1940 INDEX
