Arthur Lovell - Long March Diary and transcript - Online Museum of Prisoners of War

Arthur Lovell was captured on 20th May 1940 on the outskirts of Amiens in north east France. As far as we know he only kept a diary for the year 1945 and we wonder ‘where did he get it from?’

The first entry is for 21st January 1945 and starts with the words: ‘6am No more work, We are on the move.’ For 15 weeks he keeps an account of where he walked from and to, how far they walked, what they were given to eat and occasionally an event of note. You can see the route he took on this map.

The penultimate entry is on 6th November, with the simple statement ‘Start work‘. This is just 30 weeks after he had walked some 900km sometimes through deep snow, sub zero temperatures, driving rain and baking temperatures, whilst surviving on a starvation diet. On his return to England he weighed 6 stone 7 ounces – 38 kilogrammes.

Interestingly, he got married on 23rd June 1945 but this doesn’t get a mention!

Before you read his daily food record this is 250 grams of bread and 25 grams of butter

21/01/1945	6am No more work, We are on the move
22/01/1945	Still at Cosel. Must leave today. Left 4.30pm marched all night (25k)
23/01/1945	Arr. Gs Neukirche at 4.30am. Left at 6pm Rec 1500 grm bread (28k)
24/01/1945	Arr Grob Nremsdorf 2am. Here had 24hrs rest. Rec Custard
25/01/1945	Left 7am Arr. Neustadt 3pm Rec 200grm. 4 potatoes (18k)
26/01/1945	Left 7am Arr Schasandorf (crossed through) Bought Pig. Rec 5 potatoes. Saw Russian planes dive bombing (18)
27/01/1945	Arr Schwandorf 5pm (Weidenau) Rec 5 potatoes (32) [131]
28/01/1945	Left 9am Arr Weis-waner 4pm Rec 3 potatoes later ½pt soup. (21)
29/01/1945	Resting at Weiswaner Rec 2 pts soup
30/01/1945	Left Weiswaner at 8am Arr Regindorf at 5-30 Rec Coffee. Leslie’s birthday (30)
31/01/1945	Resting at Rogendorf Lawrie left us sick Rec 1½Lt soup ½L coffee
01/02/1945	7am Still at Regensdorf orders to move at 10.30. order cancelled. Rec 1½Ltr soup 5 potatoes Lawries birthday
02/02/1945	Still resting Regendorf Rec 1½ Ltr porridge. 5 potatoes
03/02/1945	Left at 8am Arr Stolzenay 4 pm. Joined Capn Rec ½Lt soup 3 potatoes
04/02/1945	Left at 8am Arr Braunau 4.30 pm Rec 5 potatoes (28)
05/02/1945	Resting at Braunau Rec 2 soup 5 potatoes
06/02/1945	Resting at Braunau Rec 2 soup
07/02/1945	Resting at Braunau Rec 1½Lt soup 5 potatoes
08/02/1945	Resting at Braunau Rec 1½Lt soup 350gr Brd
09/02/1945	Resting at Braunau Rec 2 soup 5 P
10/02/1945	Left Braunau 8am Arr Uber Ardersbach 3.30pm (28) [56]
11/02/1945	Resting Ubu Alderbach Rec 1½Lt soup 4P
12/02/1945	Left at 7am Arr Grop Borowitz 3pm Rec 4p (24)
13/02/1945	Left Arr Radim 1.45pm Rec 1½Lt Solφ 5P & ???? Bread (26)
14/02/1945	Left Radim 7am Arr Ktoru 1pm Rec 1½Ltr soup 200 gr B (18)
15/02/1945	Resting Ktovu Guard, very friendly gave Bread and soup Rec 1½Lt sp & lividson? bread
16/02/1945	Left Ktovu 8am arr Ober Barsau 1pm Civil very good gave ex soup Rec 1Lt Sp 750gr B. (18)
17/02/1945	Left Ober Basau 7.15 Arr Ober Katowa 12.20 Rec 1 Sp (22) [108]
18/02/1945	Resting Ober Katowa Fram 1 Cake & Apple Rec 1½Lt soup coffee with M
19/02/1945	Left Ober Katowa 8am Arr Bartzdorf 2.30 pm Rec ½Tr Sp 2 P (21)
20/02/1945	Left Bartzdorf 8 Arr Neustadl 3.30 Rec 700g B Soup ½LT (25)
21/02/1945	Resting Neustadl Rec
22/02/1945	Left Neustaddl 8am Arr Saubernitz 12.15pm Rec 550gr B 1Tr Sp (22)
23/02/1945	Left Saubernitz 8am Arr Wernitz 1.30 pm Rec 1Lr Sp (15)
24/02/1945	Left Wernitz 8 am Arr Soberten 12pm Rec ½Lt Sp (13) [96]
25/02/1945	Resting Soborten Red Cross parcel 1 between 8 Rec 500 gr B 1½Lt Sp 70gr Butt
26/02/1945	Left Soberton 8.30 am Arr Langugest 1-0pm Rec ½Lt Sp (17)
27/02/1945	Left Lanugugest 8am Arr Wurmes 3pm Rec ½Lt Sp (24)
28/02/1945	Resting Wurmes Rec 1½Lt sp 70gm Butt
01/03/1945	Left Wurmes 6.30 am arr Deutches Karlupp 3.30 (23) New Co. of guards
02/03/1945	Left Deutches Karlupp 7 am Arr Purstein 2 pm Rec .75 Lt Sp 700g Br (26)
03/03/1945	Left Purstein 4.30 am arr Eldersgrun 3.0 pm Rec (26) [116]
04/03/1945	Resting Eldersgrun Rec ½ Lt Sp 50grms B
05/03/1945	Left Eldersgrun 7.30 arr Rossmuld 1.45 Rec ½Lt Sp 200gm B (30)
06/03/1945	Left Rossmuld 8.15 arr Falkenau 11.15 Rec20 gr Saus 5 P ½ Lt Sp 100g Br (11)
07/03/1945	Resting Falkenau Rec ½ Lt Sp 200g Br
08/03/1945	Left Falkenau 7.50 am arr Durnbach 11.30 am Rec 8P 150gm Br (17)
09/03/1945	Resting Durnbach awaiting arrival of RC parcels. 26 lorries arr’d direct from Swiss RC. hope to keep up supplies Rec 8 Potatoes
10/03/1945	Left Durnbach 10.15 Arr 3.00 Schreiden Red Cross vis 1 2/3 P 93 Cig 25gr Tab Rec 5P (17) [75]
11/03/1945	Resting Schreiden R.G. 17 £eig Rec 3/4 L Sp
12/03/1945	Resting Schreiden Rec —- 5P. brought.
13/03/1945	Left Bayruth 8 am arr Theirsheim 10.30 am Rec ½Lt Sp 200gm Br (8)
14/03/1945	Left Theirsheim 9.00 arr Unterroslau Rec ½Lt Sp 150gr Br (11)
15/03/1945	Resting Unterroslau Rec 3/4 Lt Sp 5P 180gr Br
16/03/1945	Left Unterroslau 9.00 am arr Kornbach 2.00 pm Rec 400gr Br 1.3/4 Lt Sp 5P (17)
17/03/1945	Left Kornbach 8.00 am arr Stein 11.00 am Rec Mash P ½Lt (11) [47]
18/03/1945	Left Stein 7.00 arr Johannasdorf 12.00 Saw first Auto Bahn Rec 450gr Br. ½L Mash P (18)
19/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Expecting R.C.P. may leave here by train Rec Mash P Cabb & meat 1Lt
20/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf. Still awaiting R.C.P. May be going to the Tyrol Worked 3hrs pay 450Gr Br Rec Mash P Cabb & meat 1Lt 200gr Br
21/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf. Rec Mash P Cabb & meat 180gr Br
22/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf. Rec Birthday present in form of RCP Parcel 1/2 12 =1????. Fruitbar 7-8 Rec Mash Veg & meat 180gr Br
23/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf. Bath and did washing Rec Mash Veg & meat 300gr Br
24/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf. Weather is marvelous Rec 1Lt Sp 250 gr Br
25/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf R £ Ius 15 Fr Biscuits & 1¼ fruit Baps Rec Mash and Meat 200 gr Br
26/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec 1Lt Soup 300gr Br
27/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec Mash & Meat 200gr Br
28/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec 1Lt Soup 200 gr Br
29/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec 3/4 lt Sp 200 gr Br
30/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec Mash & Gravey 25gr Cheese 200gr B
31/03/1945	Resting Johannasdorf ½ RC Parcel per man 20 cig Moved to new camp Rec 5P & Gravy 200gr Br
01/04/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec 180 grm Bread ½ Lt Soup
02/04/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec 280g B ½ Lt Soup
03/04/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec 280g B ½ Lt Soup 1lb Pot
04/04/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec 280gr B ½ Lt Sp 25gr Sugar 25g Cheese
05/04/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Bombing with Incendary ½ R.C.P. Rec 280gr B ½Lt Soup
06/04/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec 280gr Br ½ Lt Soup
07/04/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Saw first American strafing of airfield. Americans reported 70K Rec ½ Lt Soup
08/04/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Report we move tomorrow Rec 400 gr B ½ L Soup
09/04/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Worked on Railway 1Lt Soup. spent most of time on the hill R.C.P 1=10 AR’s Party left to prepare new camp Rec 180 gr Br ½Lt soup
10/04/1945	Resting Johannasdorf Rec ½Lt Soup 800 gr Br 25gr Sugar
11/04/1945	Left for new camp Bayrouth Rec ½ Lt Soup (8)
12/04/1945	Resting Bayreuth Very heavy raid on Bayreuth Rec ½Lt Soup
13/04/1945	Left Bayreuth 3 am Arr Muckersdorf 12 am Rec 1 tin M&V (26)
14/04/1945	Left Muckersdorf 3am arr Dieswort 10.30 am Rec 1 tin M&V (18) [52]
15/04/1945	Left Dieswort 4.30 am Arr Mantel 9am Rec 1 tin M&V (12)
16/04/1945	Left Mantel 5am Arr Pirk 8 am Rec 1½lb Potatoes (10)
17/04/1945	Left Pirk 11pm Arr ————– RC 1½P man 80 cig. Rec 1½ Lt Sp
18/04/1945	Arr Jenlitz 9 am Rec 1 Lt Rice with Sugar (32)
19/04/1945	Left Zenlitz 5.15 am arr Feinkel 8.30 am Saw Yanks straff German lorry in the middle of our column and dip in salute to us. Our orders to wave handkerchiefs proved. rec ½Lt Mash and Gravy (12)
20/04/1945	Resting Feinkel Rec ½ Lt Soup
21/04/1945	Resting Feinkel Rec Mash & Gravy [66]
22/04/1945	Resting Feinkel Rec Mash Gravy & Dump
23/04/1945	WE ARE FREED at 10.30 The Yanks are here at last and we take the freedom of the City Rec
24/04/1945	Still at Feinkel We rec. Yank army rations from now on
25/04/1945	We move off at 8 am for Cham. Are turned back after 3k will get transport tomorrow
26/04/1945	Left Feinkel at 1pm Arr Erlangen 7.30pm We leave from here by plane
27/04/1945	Still at Erlangen Today sick and wounded have been transported
28/04/1945	Left Erlangen at 1.30 pm Arr Brussdal (Brussels) 3.45pm Left Brussdal 5.5 Arr Wing 6.35 Arr Beconsfield 7.55 Note Wonderful welcome at every port of call. Sent telegram home expect to be home on Monday 916 Miles
29/04/1945	Spent all day filling in forms and seeing Doc etc. Went to Church at Slough
10/10/1945	Jack released from army
02/10/1945	released from Army
28/10/1945	Asked to become S S Supdt (Sunday School Superintendant)
29/10/1945	We go on holiday. Arrived at 5pm. Toruay. Weather improved as we came west. Went for a walk in the evening
30/10/1945	To Babbacombe walked back via Ansteys Cove and Bishops walk. Went to pictures and saw Valley of Decision.
31/10/1945	Motor trip to Stoke Gabriel. Motor trip to Dartmeet at Ashbarton. Stay in during evening
01/11/1945	Visited Wallacombe Potteries walked to Maidencombe by goats walk bussed back and went for a row. Evening pictures
02/11/1945	Went over K. (Kent’s) Cavern in morning and walked to Cockington in the afternoon. Weather was dull but no rain
03/11/1945	Shopping during the morning. Spent the afternoon at Brixham. Saw 5 Chai?? In the evening. Weather dull before lunch and good after.___ A very good weeks holidayad very warm for autumn.
04/11/1945	M. Went to Meth church. A +E went to Bradnich to see the Harrups. Showery
05/11/1954	Jack comes. Beautiful day for traveling
10/11/1945	Sunday school films
11/11/1945	M. Went to Meth church. A +E went to Bradnich to see the Harrups. Showery
12/11/1945	Sunday S. Council
26/11/1945	Start work
03/12/1945	X Teachers meeting