POW tells his story of his escape and evasion during World War II
POW tells his story of his escape and evasion during World War II |
| Monday, 19 April 2010 17:09 |
| Author Charles Granquist spent nearly four years as a POW when he was captured by the Germans in Europe and orchestrated a remarkable five escape attempts.
In a book to be released today, Granquist recalls “The scariest part of this escaping caper was the point of re-capture. Staring down the barrels of a number of rifles and wondering whether some nervous and trigger-happy German might tighten his finger, was to say the very least, discomforting.†Granquist is one of only several hundred surviving Australian POWS that were held in Europe. At 88 years old this is his first book. “There are history books that describe the campaigns in the Western Desert and Greece where I served, but not much out there covers comprehensively the four years many of us spent as POWS,†he said. Charles was incarcerated at a number of different European prison camps including Markt Pongau, Feldkirvhen, Wolfsdberg and St.Georgen. His book A Long Way Home, captures the spirit, humour and ingenuity of an Aussie Digger. “This was the generation which grew up in the depression, then fought through a six-year global conflict and then had to build much of Australia. Their decline in numbers places an even greater onus on young Australians to understand what they went through,†said 2009 RLS National President Bill Crews. Granquist now lives in the coastal town of Port Macquarie, New South Wales. After the war and his retirement, he worked for many years as a telephone counsellor for Sydney Mission (now Mission Australia) and a radio operator for Sea Rescue. He still has a great wit and a very active mind with some great stories to tell of growing up during the Great Depression, going to war at 17 years old, becoming a POW in Europe, his five escape attempts and bringing home his Russian war bride. His book adds another important chapter to the story of Australian World War II POWS. Book titled: A Long Way Home: One POW’s story of escape and evasion during World War II by Charles Granquist, Big Sky Publishing, rrp: $24.99. www.bigskypublishing.com.au For an interview with author Charles Granquist, to obtain a review copy or further information please contact: |