Mexborough and Swinton Times July 19, 1941

Prison Ship Ordeal

Richard Thorpe (30), son of Mr. and Mrs Mason, of 20, Walker Street. Swinton, has been resting at home during the last few weeks following a spell in German hands.

Thorpe is a merchant seaman and member of crew of the Rangitane,” which, as reported the time, was by a German raider last year, the crew being transferred to a German ship whence they, along with other British crews captured, were ultimately placed on a lonely island in the Pacific.

After being rescued along with the others and taken back to Australia, Thorpe eventually landed in England earlier this year. He told a ‘Times” representative that he and his mates, as well as a number of women passengers (who were given slightly better accommodation) spent twenty-six days aboard the German raider. The food was poor and they slept on matting. Water was strictly rationed and with no shaving facilities the captives soon began to look bedraggled. Eventually they were landed on a small island, the only occupant of which was a planter and his workmen.

Accommodation for the women was found in the planter’s compound, but the men had to rig up shelters of palm leaves. They spent Christmas Day on the island, their stay lasting from December 21st to December 28th.

The Germans told their prisoners that Germany would have won the war in two months, a prophecy of which the fulfilment is already many months behind schedule.