“Madam I would like to remind and also to inform you that our two countries are at War. Your request is rather impudent and imposing I really cannot consider it.” “You are a German Naval Officer and a member of the Embassy Staff”, Mother quietly but firmly retorted, “ Should a Royal Navy Officer have a similar request for a reasonable favour from a German Lady, he would naturally know that he would be honour bound to try to help her, and all I plead with you is to act in a like manner to a British Naval Officer”. The comparison had now caught the Attaché on his weak spot, and he shifted around not quite knowing what to say in reply to her argument, but eventually responded : “Well alright then I will do what you say. But please understand this. Neither you nor I have any idea how this War is going to end, and providing you accept my assurance that I will try my best with no guarantees at all, then I will do what you ask of me.” “Yes I quite understand your position and I am very appreciative, and I am quite willing to accept that risk”, and so saying that she handed over the package. The later consequences of this charming little tale will be told when the War with Germany finally ended in May 1945 but we still continued to be prisoners for another three months! The handing over ceremony took place at 6 o’clock that evening on the 10th July to the Japanese representatives from the Foreign and Interior Ministries. The 137 prisoners from our lot were all very apprehensive, as were also the German crew who appeared sympathetic seeing us go into the unknown. First we were put on a train to Ueno Station in Tokyo, from where we had to change on to the Tohoku Line to travel North. It was 11.40 pm before we were finally underway, with the train chugging and trundling northwards slowly throughout the night. In the morning as we awoke we were passing through wooded and very lush countryside, all dripping wet from the warm overnight rain. We were handed for breakfast, bread and a small tin of smoked eel fillets to go with it, which was tasty and helped quieten our anxiety. At 8.30 am the train finally pulled into Fukushima Station where we were met by buses to take us to what was to be our home for the next 3 years.

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