The most irritating feature of these parades was the length of time we were kept waiting in the scorching sun upon the convenience of his “Excellency.”  To him it was nothing that we should be kept standing at attention for an hour or more, while the guards, steeped in discipline as they were, took a fiendish pleasure in keeping us up to the mark.  I recall one parade very vividly.  The heat was intense:  the thermometer must have been at least 110 degrees in the sun.  We paraded at two o’clock as usual and were brought to attention.  Major Bach was momentarily expected, but he did not come upon the scene until 4.45.  For 2-3/4 hours we were kept in the broiling sun, and none of us being in the pink of condition owing to the wretched and inadequate food, we soon commenced to betray signs of fatigue.  On this occasion, even the German guards could not adhere to the disciplinary rule.  When we abandoned the rigid attention attitude for others more or less comfortable they followed our example, although they maintained a discreet alertness for the coming of the Commandant so that we might be brought to attention before he appeared upon the scene.

One of the prisoners had been a Japanese trapezist and juggler.  He was very old.  He said, and we agreed, he was about 75 years of age.  But the German authorities arbitrarily assessed his age at 54 years, and such it had to be so long as it suited their purpose.  He had toured the vaudeville theatres and music halls in Germany for over 20 years, but he was rounded up, and despite all his protestations concerning his age was interned at Sennelager.

The age of the poor old fellow was perfectly obvious.  He was very weak, and indeed, quite incapable of performing the most simple duties set by our Lord and Master.  K——­, the captain of our barrack—­the Jap formed one of our party—­recognising the old man’s incapacity and infirmities, eased his unfortunate position as much as he dared.  One man had to be detached from each party when it went out to work, to serve as orderly for the day, and his responsibility was to keep the barrack clean and tidy during our absence.  At every available opportunity, especially when confronted with a severe day’s work, K——­ told off the old man as orderly, the light work pertaining to which was within his capacity.

Upon the day of this particular parade the old man, enfeebled with age, weak from want of food, and debilitated, could not resist the merciless blazing sun.  From sheer fatigue he sank to the ground.  We in our pity left him there, although we closed around him to shield him from the eagle eyes of the vigilant guard.  When Major Bach appeared suddenly we all sprang hurriedly to attention.  But our aged Japanese friend was not so quick.  The Commandant saw him sitting on the ground at the same moment as the guard, also catching sight of him, rushed forward.  The old fellow was unmercifully hustled to his feet, although it was with only an extreme effort that he could rise.