Muir was then captured during a German counter-attack. He was involved in various escape attempts up until the Italian Armistice but none was successful. After the Italian Armistice, whilst being transported back to Germany he and a fellow prisoner, Hugh Baker, escape from the wooden waggons of the train. Hugh Baker is injured jumping from the train and they spent time recuperating with the help from Italian civilians around a village called Avio.
The full story follows, in two versions. The version in the first window below is the original scanned version of the story. In the second window below is the transcribed version in plain text. Brief account in letter form. No one escaped from there and when the Germans found so many POWs were missing when wanting to take them to Germany searched with a tooth-comb in one report in the form of hand-grenades and flushed them out. As Hugh had landed badly they holed up until 5th October but got into Switzerland on 12th October.
Excellent material for the rapidly expanding archives. Started tunnel in toilet area but Muir caught at tunnel face when Itis discover tunnel. Then to punishment camp at Gavi — Colditz of Italy. With Hugh Baker — a Rhodesian he finds himself fortunately in a wooden railways wagon — not metal like most of his companions from the camp.
They soon swim the Adige River and then inspect their injuries. HB had a badly twisted knee and ankle. They slept in a vineyard and next day sunbathed and dried out. Yugoslavs move on and Italians with a handcart come to take HB to house of town official Enilio. Wounds are dressed and bed given — until Germans commandeer the house and they hide in cage with food brought them.
At Como they have an address. They keep to tracks but at Arco decide they must cross the town bridge but German sentry takes no notice of them. As HB spoke Africans they pretend to be Dutch sailors but are not believed. They climb ft and then down across valleys. A boy of 13 leads them for a bit. Skirt several villages. Look down on Edolo with Germans visible. Informed that the Swiss border is on Mount Combolo. On 12th October they set off at 4am, to climb. One would hide and watch as the other went forward.
