Henry Masterman Mist Diaries and Prisoners Pie Magazine
Diaries of Heny Masterman Mist and a copy of Prisoners’ Pie, the Ruhleben Camp magazine. Learn more.
*All transcriptions are provided by volunteers, and the accuracy of the transcriptions is not guaranteed. Please be sure to verify the information by viewing the image record, or visiting the BC Archives in person.
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through a crack in some dark shelter. From time to time a sleepy head looked out of a black window. Hollow sounded the steps of the soldiers through the empty streets. The prisoners' step were hardly heard at all.
Finally they arrived at a gloomy, frowning building. The sergeant led the prisoners before his superior and reported briskly "A squadron of flyers forced to land and taken prisoners. Nationality and uniforms unknown. Here are the arms, which they delivered." Wherewith he gave a sign to the soldiers to pile the arms on the floor.
The busy officer did not even glance at the arms but gave orders to keep all the aviators imprisoned and to bring the leader of the squadron before him for a short trial. The command was fulfilled at once and the trial began.
"Nationality? Regiment or number of your squadron etc. etc.?" asked the officer in a harsh tone, without looking up at the prisoner. "We have no nationality at all; we don't belong to any regiment or squadron. We are not enemies; we wished to announce to mankind peace on earth." "No subterfuge, please! I want to know the truth. Things are much too serious!" "We wished to announce peace on earth, goodwill to men," quietly repeated the angels' leader. "D -- --! I have no time for stupid jokes! Where do you come from?" "From heaven, where eternal peace reigns."
The officer's patience was now at an end. He struck the table with his fist and let drop a mighty curse. Then he gave the order: "Imprison this man with the rest!"
Thereupon the angels' spokesman was cast into a dismal dungeon with his fellow "aviators"; and the food, which their captors offered, was refused by them ......
Next morning came. The blushing dawn sent its first soft rays into the room, where the officer sat busy again at his writing table, a burning lamp before him. The new day's shy maiden-light, mingling with that of the lamp produced a magic illumination in the uncomfortable, frosty office. The man sat bent over his work. Suddenly he raised his head, he listened ..... faint sounds from outside reached his ear .... and became clearer and clearer. The bells of the churches were ringing, and their mild, placable tone entered into the room. The officer stood up, opened the window and as in a dream looked out into the dawning winter morning. A gentle thrill passed through his soul and he murmured: "Christmas bells! ..... Peace on earth ..... and goodwill to men ....."
As he turned from the window, he noticed for the first time the nature of the captured arms. A strange look leapt to his eyes and he at once gave the order to have the prisoners brought before him. The soldiers hurried to obey. But when they opened the cell into which they had thrown the captives -- lo! it was vacant and no one could tell now the prisoners had escaped .....
A. Mc. E.
BC Archives, MS-2570 Box 1 File 6 MIST, Henry Masterman Ruhleben magazine, Prisoners’ Pie, 1916