Escape to where?

[davywavy]

In early 1942, three Italian Prisoners of war - Felice Benuzzi (the leader) and two companions - made a daring escape bid from Camp 342 in British held West Africa. They had spent months planning and preparing their bid, understanding the harsh terrain they would have to travel through, and the dangers they would face - barbed wire, armed patrols, The Kings African Rifles, lions, and rhino all stood between them and their goal. It took them 8 months to gather all the necessary supplies they would need, and make the equipment that would carry them through.

Finally, in early January, they made their successful escape.

Naturally, the British assumed that they were making for the nearest friendly or neutral territory - Mogadishu, or Portuguese colonies further down the coast.

They were wrong. Eighteen days later the three arrived back at camp 342, bedraggled and tired, where they voluntarily gave themselves up. They had just completed an unassisted ascent of Mount Kenya, at 17,000+ feet the tallest peak in West Africa. There they hoisted a homemade Italian flag before voluntarily returning to their camp.

When asked why they did it, Felice replied that they had been motivated solely by boredom at the unremitting tedium of camp life.

I love stories like this. They're so life affirming.

Comments

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

I could understand it happening the other way round, but Italian prisoners doing this? It's just too British :)

Re:

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Perhaps being in a british POW camp rubbed off.

Great, though, isn't it?

There's a part of me feels inspired to write a book about it. Shame someone already has.

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

Oh, do an "inspired by" SF soap opera thing. Or ignore the existing book and do one anyway - originality doesn't bother chick-lit writers, so why should it worry you?