“After some hours, following a request to the prison commandant,
the stewardesses were allowed separate quarters in the top of the
building. Otherwise they were treated in the same way as male
prisoners until they were separated to go to a different camp. At 3
a. m., on June 25th, orders came for all to be ready for the train to
Germany, the stewardesses joining us at the station. At 5 a. m. we all
left, closely packed, in cattle trucks, and on arrival at Ghent we
were escorted to very dirty and unhealthful quarters underground. At
5 a. m. on the following day we left Ghent for Germany, via Cologne,
where the stewardesses and Russians were separated to go to other
camps. After being exhibited at Berlin, as at Hanover and other
stations, the rest went to Ruhleben, where they arrived at 5 p. m.,
June 28th. Two days later Capt. Fryatt and I received orders to the
effect that we were to be prepared to leave the camp at 8 p. m. for
Bruges on ship’s business.
“We arrived at Bruges at 7 a. m., on July 2d, after visiting Ostend
by mistake on the part of the escort. We reported to the port
commandant at 9 a. m., and were taken from him to the town prison and
put in cells. From then onward we were treated as criminals. We were
occasionally visited by German officials and questioned as to the
submarine and other subjects, on which Capt. Fryatt made a clear and
open statement to the Germans, with nothing condemning to himself.
From the time of being placed in the prison at Bruges to July 15th I
saw Capt. Fryatt and spoke to him on several occasions, after which I
never spoke to him until one hour before he was shot.
“I will endeavor to make you understand the so-called tribunal or
trial. On July 24th Capt. Fryatt and myself were questioned and
cross-questioned in the prison, and, so far as I could learn, Capt.
Fryatt never added to or departed from his opening statement. It was
then that we were first informed of the tribunal that was to follow.
On July 26th we were told to be ready for the tribunal, which was to
take place at Bruges Town Hall on the 27th at 11 a. m. On July 27th at
9 a. m. the door of the cell was opened, and an escort was waiting. To
my surprise, four of the crew were in the waiting cell. Each man was
escorted to the Town Hall, Capt. Fryatt and I being the last to go,
and placed under a strong guard until the trial began.
“At 12 noon Capt. Fryatt was called into his place before the
so-called bench, and repeated his previous statement. I followed and
answered questions that appeared to be ridiculous, not appearing
either to defend or condemn Capt. Fryatt. At the same time an officer
in uniform appeared, and, approaching Capt. Fryatt and myself,
informed us in broken English that he was for the defense. The
Naval Commandant of the port conducted the trial, and also acted as
interpreter. At 4 p. m. the Naval Commandant informed us that all was
over so far, and that the decision, resting with the naval officers,
would be made known to us in our cells.