| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | AWM2022.6.147 |
| Collection number | PR04686 |
| Collection type | Digitised Collection |
| Record type | Wallet |
| Item count | 1 |
| Object type | Papers |
| Maker |
Potter, Alfred John |
| Place made | North Africa: Libya |
| Date made | 1941 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Wallet 1 of 1 - Report relating to the Second World War service of Private Alfred John Potter, 1941
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of QX8231 Private Alfred John Potter, 2/15 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Libya, 1941.
Wallet 1 of 1 contains one report by Private Alfred John Potter, dated 21 August 1941, describing events between 6 April and early June in which he was captured as a prisoner of war in Libya, interned at Derna Prisoner of War Camp, and subsequently escaped. He writes about being surrounded by enemy troops while travelling between towns, his impressions of the prisoner of war camp at Derna, daily activities, poor sanitation and hygiene measures, his successful escape, and his journey to find friendly forces. This journey involved walking long distances through the Libyan Desert, hiding from enemy troops, asking local people for assistance, travelling with other small parties of Allied troops, having limited food and water, and finally arriving at an Indian camp.