We built that drain, but it was necessity’s labour lost.  We were not provided with proper drain pipes but made an open conduit.  We had to go to the quarry to get the stone, which we broke into small pieces, and these were set out in concave form at the bottom of the trench we had excavated after the manner in which cobble stones are laid.  I believe it was considered to be an excellent piece of work, but unfortunately it was of little use.  The first wind and rain that came along dumped the sand into it with the result that it became filled up.

A day or two later there was another parade.  Once more the officer stood before us with a long sheet of paper in his hand.

“All those who can do wire-pulling stand out!”

Those who knew about what he was talking advanced to form a little group.

“All those who are gardeners stand out!”

More men advanced and another group resulted.

The officer went right through his list calling out a long string of trades and callings.  The result was our sub-division into a number of small units, each capable of fulfilling some task.  A sentry was appointed to each group and we were hurried off to the particular toil for which we considered ourselves to be fitted, and about which I will say more later.

If the accommodation at the “luxurious hotel” was wretched the routine and cuisine were worse.  We were under military discipline as it is practised in Prussia, and it was enforced with the utmost rigour.  We were not permitted to speak to an officer under any pretext whatever.  Any complaints or requests had to be carried to the authorities through our “Captain,” who was also the officially recognised interpreter.  If we met an officer we were commanded to raise our hats.

[gap]

The day started at 6.0 a.m., with parade.  If we desired to have a wash and shave we had to be astir an hour earlier because otherwise we were not allowed to perform those essential duties until late in the evening.  After parade we had breakfast—­a basin of lukewarm “coffee” made from acorns roasted and ground, which we had to fetch, and with which neither milk nor sugar was served.

At seven o’clock we started the day’s work, which was continued without respite until mid-day.  At least that was the official order, but one or two of the guards were far from being harsh towards us.  In the middle of the morning, as in our case, the warder, after a wary look round, would ask if we would like to rest for ten minutes to snatch something to eat if we had it.  Needless to say the slight respite was greatly appreciated.  But it was by no means the general practice.  One or two of the sentries were so deeply incensed against England that they took the opportunity to bait and badger the men in their charge without mercy.  They kept the prisoners under them going hard without a break or pause.

At noon we returned to barracks for dinner.  Arming ourselves with our basins we scrambled down to the cook-house for our rations.  It was red-cabbage soup, and it was never varied.  But it was the strangest soup I have ever seen made or tasted, more particularly during the early days.