m that reigned as our troop-trains slowly
rolled into Berlin.
Along ten lines, crowded with continuous trains, we were conveyed to our
destination. Our trains were preceded by slow trains which dropped
guards at each bridge and station.
As our train steamed into the depot outside Berlin, I saw the wonderful
system of getting away troops. As soon as a train arrived columns poured
into a great park adjoining and took up allotted places.
As we passed along the streets the populace did not show any of the
fright and fear we fancied our presence would cause. They chatted,
smiled and pointed at us as if it were an ordinary parade of troops and
not the triumphant conquerors of their country.
Truth to tell, they were mighty sick of the war and the long
preparation, and our presence proved it was all over.
I remember, best of all, the frenzied welcome we received from the
Russian forces who had trained in from the south east.
They had kept the enemy busy on the east whilst we were moving up. It
was like the meeting of many friends who had come through adversity
together.
I can only picture one simile. I remember a story of two miners
imprisoned in a mine. They were cut off from all help and separated, but
began digging to meet one another. After many hours they cut through the
wall of clay that stood between them. Their hand-grip must have been as
ours was on that wonderful day in August.
It would take three days for all troops to detrain, so I sought the
earliest opportunity of finding Miss Goche. Nap came with me. The only
clue I had was that she had been removed to a concentration camp at
Berlin. I found that camp. A military officer who could speak English
saluted as we approached and informed us that all foreign military
prisoners had been transferred to Belgium and given their liberty.
"Was a Miss Goche among them?" I anxiously asked.
"I cannot say," he replied.
My heart sank. I felt that it was a difficult task for a stranger
unacquainted with German and a former enemy to attempt to trace the
information.
Nap tapped me on the shoulder, and in order to cheer me said: "You've
got a friend here, come and look him up."
There would be little difficulty in finding Wilbrid, he was now a public
character. So we took a car for the Humanist headquarters and there we
found him seated at a large desk in his shirt sleeves. On either side of
him were two dictaphones, and into the cylinders he was alternativ
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