But it is in the hope that they will care to follow with not uncritical interest the following plain unvarnished account of the Tunnel episode that I, a mere looker-on, have sorted out the threads and fitted the jumble together. If any think this an impertinence, may I plead that an ordinary stage hand may see more of the workings of a nine months run than the star performers? To them at any rate, protagonists, walkers- and lookers-on in the event, and their friends and relations I would address myself particularly. Through them alone can I hope to interest the British public in this simple tale of a strategically unimportant but highly successful side-show, in Germany, in the dog days of 1918. I am indebted to one friend in particular for assistance in the true description of the actual Tunnel. He prefers to remain anonymous. Many others of my ex-fellow-prisoners have helped me in various ways. The design which is reproduced on the cover was drawn by Lieutenant Lockhead while in captivity at Stralsund and was intended to serve as a Christmas card; I am indebted to him for the loan of the block. To Messrs Blackwood I am obliged for permission to reprint the personal experiences contained in the final chapter. H. G. DURNFORD. KING’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. _24th July 1920._ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE PROLOGUE 1 I. A CAMP IN BEING 14 II. NIEMEYER—AND PINPRICKS 32 III. INTRODUCING THE MAIN MOTIF 49 IV. ESCAPES 60 V. ACCOMPLICES 71 VI. IN THE TUNNEL 89 VII. REPRISALS 101 VIII. THE LAST LAP 118 IX. THE ESCAPE AND THE SEQUEL 131 X. CLOSING INCIDENTS 148 XI. MAKING GOOD 164 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ILLUSTRATIONS AND PLANS The track of the Holzminden Tunnel after being dug up _Frontispiece_ A street in Ypres ⎫ The Cloth Hall in 1917 ⎬ _to face p._ 2 The Menin Gate of Ypres⎭ The Battery in action N. of the Menin Road⎫ The Menin Road ⎬ ” 5 At the waggon-lines ⎭ View from Kaserne B, showing skating rink made in January 1918 _to face p._ 30 Karl Niemeyer ” 36 General plan of Holzminden Camp _p._ 53