Give Me Air

Edward Ward, 7th Viscount Bangor (1905–1993), was a well-known BBC journalist when he was captured while reporting from North Africa in November 1941 during the Battle of Sidi Rezegh. PoW in transit camp PG 85 Tuturano (near Brindisi). Transferred to PG 78 at Sulmona. Told that the Italian General Staff did not recognize war correspondents as officers, he, Anderson, an AP correspondent, and South African journalists with whom he had been captured (including Uys Krige), were put in the troopsʼ compound. After eight months, he was transferred to the officersʼ compound. Interesting observations on the differences between the two. At invasion of Sicily, moved to Bologna. Friendly with Reynolds (René) Cutforth ('Senussi'), a well-known BBC correspondent postwar, Dawyck Haig (Field Marshalʼs son) and Pat Crosse, Reutersʼ correspondent. At Armistice taken to Germany and sent to Hadamar Oflag XII-B, a Senior Officers camp. Liberated by the Americans late March 1945. Returned to work and witnessed liberation of Leipzig, US-USSR link-up at Torgau, and interviewed Grand Admiral Doenitz at Flensburg.