Typescript titled 'The Last Month', signed 'Ernie Wilmott', describing the author's experiences during the last days of World War Two at Gaschwitz POW camp near Leipzig. With covering ALS from J. L. H. Batt ('Jack') and TLS to Batt from Charles

13pp., foolscap 8vo. Paginated 1 to 13 and signed at the end 'Ernie Wilmott'. On seven leaves stapled into grey covers, with the title 'The Last Month' typed on the front cover. In good condition, in worn wraps. The account commences: 'There had been gun fire from the west and the south for the last three days. Friday the 13th April 1945 the usual officials did not come to fetch the men, but a little later than usual the Gaschwyz [sic] column was called, so we assembled and left for work, about 20 of us. There was a lot of activity in the station yard, German military vehicles were coming and going, and a contingent of unarmed Russian fatigue men were on parade.' A typically vivid passage reads: 'In the morning of the 24th April I heard chaps reporting prisoners passing through and our guards not interfering, a lot of Indians were going through without any guards. Chaps with kit got up early because of being cold. I got up after seven and went outside and saw the Indians going through. A column of Russian prisoners appeared with guards and were halted just outside. The German guards were standing about in groups talking to each other, and taking no notice of the prisoners some of whom were already making off. A man got up on a cart and addressed us, he said he couldn't advise us to go, he couldn't advise us to stay, the German commandant had said that if we stayed he would do his best to obtain food for us, there was a horse dying in the next village, and he had the first refusal of it if it expired and we should have it.' The account ends on Wilmott's return: 'At London I bid my comrades of the last 2 years goodbye and got on a train at Paddington. It was a noisy journey, ex P.O.W.'s one side of the compartment, civilians the other, we all talked at once. At Bristol I had to catch a bus home, and suddenly realised I had to pay the fare, it was more than 3 years since I had paid a fare anywhere.' The covering Autograph Letter Signed by Batt is signed 'Jack', on letterhead of 1 Churstonville Court, 1 Overbury Avenue, Beckenham, Kent. 1p., 4to. Undated and with recipient's name not given. 'The writer Ernie Willmott [sic] spoke 4 Languages and was learning Russian whilst POW in Germany. As he spoke German he was chosen as Camp Leader of our working Camp at Gaschwitz-Leipzig. Our Common path of experience starts at Campo 53 (Page 69) - from there we were together unitl the war ended or shared similar experiences.' In a postscript he adds that Wilmott 'was not in Campo 66 at Capua but in hospital at Caserta'. Also present is a Typed Letter Signed to Batt from 'Charles'. On letterhead of 99 South Eden Park Road, Beckenham, Kent. 21 June 1974. 1p., 8vo. The 'article on Sidi Nsir' brings back 'many memories', and he is enclosing 'The Story of 46 Division'.