This list focuses on the Allied POW experience in Italy in the Second World War, concentrating on first-hand accounts that cover imprisonment, escape, reaching Switzerland/Allied lines or recapture and transportation to Germany, and, in some instances, postwar return visits to Italy. The date is of first publication, with later editions included only in certain instances. Some Italian editions are also mentioned but the list is predominantly of publications in English. Please write with any suggestions for additional titles to: jcgmackenzie@gmail.com
First-hand accounts
Primary sources
Abbott, Lt.-Col. Denny, Winter Holiday in Italy, The Garhwali (Royal Garhwal Rifles Officers Association), 7 (1 January 1952), pp. 210–22.
Allardice, Dallas, Friendship in a Time of War (1939–46). High School of Dundee, Dundee, 2004.
Alexander, John Lindsay, On Getting Through / Attraversando le Linée. Associazione Culturale “Il Liri”, 2013.
Allison, Errol S., Kiwi at Large. Robert Hale, London, 1961.
Anderson, J. [John], Escape in the Apennines. Gamsberg Macmillan, Windhoek, Namibia, 1992.
Aries, Angela (ed.), Solly’s War: An English Prisoner of War in Italy and Germany. Cappella Archive, Malvern, 2015. [Written by Lt John ‘Solly’ Joel and edited by his daughter.]
Armstrong, C.N., Life Without Ladies. Whitcombe & Tombs, Christchurch, NZ, 1947.
Bains, Lawrence, Nine Months Behind German Lines. Privately published (Lulu.com), 2013.
Baird, Archie, Family of Four. Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 1989.
Barnett, Alex J.R., Hitler’s Digger Slaves: Caught in the Web of Axis Labour Camps. Australian Military History Publications, Loftus, NSW, 2001.
Bateman, G.C., Diary of a Temporary Soldier. Privately published, Guildford, 1986.
Bell, Ian, And Strength Was Given. Tynedale & Panda Publishing, Lowestoft, 1989.
—, No Place to Hide. Minerva Press, London, 1998.
Billany, Dan, in collaboration with David Dowie, The Cage. Longmans, Green, London, 1949.
Billany, Dan, The Trap. Faber & Faber, London, 1950; reprinted Faber & Faber, London, 1986. [Novel.]
Bishop, Jack, In Pursuit of Freedom. Leo Cooper, London, 1977.
Blackman, Michael, By the Hunter’s Moon. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1956.
Bosman, John J.G., Providence Was My Guide. Privately published, South Africa, n.d.
Briggs, Robert, A Funny Kind of War: A Wartime Log. Arlington Books, London, 1985.
Broad, John Evelyn, Poor People – Poor Us, Poveri Gen’ – Poveri Noi. H.H. Tombs, Wellington, NZ, 1945; also published in Italian as Povera Gente Poveri Noi. Edizioni Menabò, Ortona, 2017.
Broadbent, Gilbert, Behind Enemy Lines. Anchor Publications, Bognor Regis, 1985.
Broomhead, Edwin N., Barbed Wire in the Sunset. The Book Depot, Melbourne, 1944.
Brudenell-Woods, Basil, Four Packs to Freedom. Kangaroo Press, East Roseville, NSW, 1998.
Buchanan, Kelpie, Mektoub: War Memories 1939–1945. Privately published, 2007.
Buckland, John, Adriatic Adventure. Robertson and Mullens, Melbourne, 1945.
Bull, Eric, Go Right, Young Man. Blaisdon, Bedale, 1997.
Burnett, Bill Bendyshe, The Rock that is Higher than I. Privately published, South Africa, 1997.
Burns, John, Life is a Twisted Path: A Time of Imprisonment, Escape, Evasion and Final Refuge with the Mattei of Montecelio and Bishop Alois Hudal of Santa Maria dell’Anima, Rome. Santa Maria dell’Anima, Rome, 2002.
Caillou, Alan, The World is Six Feet Square. Peter Davies, London, 1954.
Calvey, Robert W., Name, Rank and Number. Book Guild Publishing Ltd, Lewes, 1998.
Cameron, J.E., ‘Prisoner-Snatching in Italy’, Blackwood’s Magazine, 259:1564 (February 1946), pp. 109–14.
Campbell, R.D., ‘Escape Through Italy’, London Calling: The Overseas Journal of the BBC, 220 (26 December 1943–1 January 1944 [printed 25 November 1943]), p. 10.
Carton de Wiart, Lieutenant-General Adrian, Happy Odyssey. Jonathan Cape, London, 1950; reprinted Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2007.
Cheetham, John, Italian Interlude: The Experiences of a Prisoner-of-War in Italy, July 1942–June 1944. Privately published, Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, 2000.
Chutter, James B., Captivity Captive. Jonathan Cape, London, 1954.
Clifton, George, The Happy Hunted. Cassell, London, 1952.
Cowtan, John, From the Gazala Line to Behind the Lines: Wartime Memories of John Cowtan. AuthorHouse, Milton Keynes, 2011.
Crack, T.E., Missing: Believed Killed in Action. Privately published, Sardis, British Columbia, Canada, 1993.
Crompton, Cyril and Peter Johnson, Luck’s Favours: Two South African Second World War Memoirs [For the Adventure of It by Cyril Crompton and On the Run in Wartime Italy by Peter Johnson]. Echoing Green Press, Fish Hoek, South Africa, 2010.
Cullen, William (ed.), Italy – The Hard Way: Paddy Cullen’s War Memoirs. Privately published [Tooreen, County Mayo, Ireland], 2004.
D’Alesio, Dominick, The Worst is Yet to Come: Allied Prisoners of World War II at Risk in Italy. Vantage Press, New York, 2001.
Damini, Ettore, A Boy at War, translated by Philip Vaughan. Privately published, Italy, 1999; also published in Italian as Ricordi di Guerra. Privately published, Italy, 1999.
Dann, Len, Laughing We Ran. Privately published, Tucann, Heighington, Lincolnshire, 1995.
Darby, Phil, Press on Rewardless. Privately published, 1997.
Davies, Tony, When the Moon Rises. Leo Cooper, London, 1973.
Davison, G. Norman, In the Prison of His Days: The Memoirs of a Captured World War II Gunner. Scratching Shed Publishing, Leeds, 2009.
Deane-Drummond, Anthony, Arrows of Fortune. Leo Cooper, London, 1992.
—, Return Ticket. Collins, London, 1953.
de Burgh, H.G., ‘Smuggler’s Way: A Story of Our Escape over the Monte Rossa’, Blackwood’s Magazine, 258:1561 (November 1945), pp. 289–98 [reprinted in Ian English (ed.), Home by Christmas?, pp. 107–15].
de Burgh, Lucy, My Italian Adventures: An English Girl at War 1943–47. History Press, Stroud, 2013.
Denny, Harold, Behind Both Lines: Experiences as a Prisoner of War in Italy and Germany, 1941–2. Michael Joseph, London, 1943.
Derry, Sam, The Rome Escape Line: The Story of the British Organisation in Rome for Assisting Escaped Prisoners-of-War, 1943–44. Harrap, London, 1960; also published in Italian as Linea di fuga 1943–1944: Sulmona-Roma-Città del Vaticano. Qualevita, Sulmona, 2011.
Dick, Robert, I was Not Alone. Scottish Cultural Press, Edinburgh, 1997.
Dickinson, E. B. “Dick”, From Jo’Burg to Dresden: A World War II Diary, edited by Taffy and David Shearing. Privately published, 2010.
Dodds, Arthur, Desert Harvest. Dianthus Publishing, Cirencester, second edition, 1998.
du Preez, Laurie, Inside the Cage. C. Struik, Cape Town, 1973.
Dunning, George, Where Bleed the Many. Elek Books, London, 1955.
Edy, Don, Goon in the Block. Privately published, 1961; revised edition 2010.
Ellis, Ray, Once a Hussar: A Memoir of Battle, Capture and Escape in the Second World War. Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2013.
English, Ian, Assisted Passage. Privately published, 1994.
— (ed.), Home by Christmas? Privately published, 1997; revised edition, Monte San Martino Trust, London, 2017.
Flederman, Alan John, And Direction Was Given: A Daring Escape from a POW Camp and a Dramatic Journey to Neutral Switzerland. Athena Press, London, 2008.
Flowerdew, Douglas, Finding the Way: Wartime Adventures in Italy 1942–43. Privately published, 1988 [includes a memoir by Drew Bethell].
Fox, John Esmond, Spaghetti & Barbed Wire. Wye Valley Press (Derbyshire Heritage), 1988; also published in Italian as Spaghetti e Filo Spinato. Qualevita, Sulmona, 2002.
Frelinghuysen, Joseph, Passages to Freedom: A Story of Capture and Escape. Sunflower University Press, Manhattan, Kansas, 1990.
Furman, John, Be not Fearful. Anthony Blond, 1959; also published in Italian as Non aver paura. Garzanti, Milano, 1962.
Gallegos, Adrian, From Capri into Oblivion. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1959.
Garioch, Robert, Two Men and a Blanket: Memoirs of Captivity. Southside, Edinburgh, 1975.
Garrad-Cole, E. [Eric], Single to Rome. Allan Wingate, London, 1955.
Gerard, J.D., Unwilling Guests. A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, NZ, 1945.
Gibbs, Denis L.A., Apennine Journey. Privately published, n.d.
Gilbert, Michael, Death in Captivity. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1952 [novel].
Goddard, K.M., ‘Inside Out!’, Gunner (Journal of the Royal Artillery), part 1, 105 (August 1979), pp. 14–15; part 2, 106 (September 1979), pp. 16–17. See also ‘Escape Route Re-Visited’, Gunner, 103 (June 1979), p. 13.
Goddard, Vilma, A Partisan View. Privately published (Lulu.com), 2011.
Goody, Jack, Oltre i muri: La mia prigionia in Italia. Il mondo 3 edizioni, Roma, 1997.
Graham, D.S., Escapes and Evasions of ‘An Obstinate Bastard’. Privately published, 2000.
Greening, C. Ross, Not as Briefed: From the Doolittle Raid to a German Stalag. Washington State University Press, Pullman, Washington, 2003 [Compiled and edited by Dorothy Greening and Karen Morgan Driscoll].
Gregson, A.A.M., Escape, Italy, 1942–1945. Privately published, 2011.
Haig, A.E.G., Gentleman Cadet to Headmaster. Pentland Press, Edinburgh, 1988.
Hargest, James, Farewell Campo 12. Michael Joseph, London, 1945.
—, ‘Journey Through Switzerland’, London Calling: The Overseas Journal of the BBC, 244 (11–17 June 1944 [printed 11 May 1944]), pp. 12–13.
Harris, G.H., Prisoner of War and Fugitive. Gale & Polden, Aldershot, 1947 (digital version: https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.209540/2015.209540.Prisoner-Of_djvu.txt).
Henderson, Jim, Gunner Inglorious. H.H. Tombs, Wellington, NZ, 1945.
Hirst, Fred, A Green Hill Far Away. A. Lane, Stockport, 1998.
Holmes, Hugh, One Man in his Time. Square One Publications, Worcester, 1991.
Hood, Stuart, Pebbles from my Skull. Hutchinson, London, 1963; reprinted as Carlino with a new afterword, Carcanet, Manchester, 1985; Faber & Faber, London, 2013.
Horner, Gordon, For You the War is Over. Privately published (Falcon Press), 1948.
Jones, Donald I., Escape from Sulmona. Vantage Press, New York, 1980; also published in Italian as Fugo da Sulmona. Qualevita, Sulmona, 2002.
Jones, Francis S., Escape to Nowhere. Bodley Head, London, 1952; Mayflower, St Albans, 1977.
Jordan, Martin, For You the War is Over. Peter Davies, London, 1946 [novel].
Killby, J. Keith, In Combat, Unarmed: The Memoir of a World War II Soldier and Prisoner of War. Monte San Martino Trust, London, 2013; also published in Italian as In Guerra Disarmato. Privately published (Antonio Millozzi), 2015.
Kindersley, Philip, For You the War is Over. Midas Books, Tunbridge Wells, 1983.
Krige, Uys, The Way Out. Unie-Volkspers Beperk, Cape Town, 1946 and Collins, London, 1946; also published in Italian as Libertà sulla Maiella. Vallecchi, Firenze, 1965.
Leeming, John F., Always To-morrow. Harrap, London, 1951.
—, It Always Rains in Rome. Harrap, London, 1960 [novel].
Lett, Gordon, Rossano: An Adventure of the Italian Resistance. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1955; republished as Rossano: Valley in Flames, An Adventure of the Italian Resistance. Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2011.
McGeoch, Ian, An Affair of Chances: A Submariner’s Odyssey, 1939–44. Imperial War Museum, London, 1991.
Macintosh, Charles, From Cloak to Dagger: An SOE Agent in Italy 1943–1945. William Kimber, London, 1982.
Mackie, Philip, Hurrah! The Flag. André Deutsch, London, 1957 [novel].
Macpherson, Sir Tommy, with Richard Bath, Behind Enemy Lines: The Autobiography of Britain’s Most Decorated Living War Hero. Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 2010.
Mander, d’Arcy, Mander’s March on Rome. Sutton, Gloucester, 1987.
Mann, George, Over the Wire. Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 1988.
Mann, Ronald, Moving the Mountain. Aldersgate Productions, London, 1995.
Marlow, Roy, Beyond the Wire. Robert Hale, London, 1983; reprinted by George Mann, Maidstone, 1997.
Martin, Bert and Hazel Spencer, Till We Meet Again: Gunner Bert Martin 1941–1945. Privately published (Ian Douglas), 2017.
Mason, Malcolm J., The Way Out: A Kiwi Escapes in Italy. Paul’s Book Arcade, Hamilton, NZ, 1946; Digit Books, London, 1957.
—, The Water Flows Uphill: A Kiwi Returns to Italy. Blackwood & Janet Paul, NZ; Allen & Unwin, London, 1964.
Mather, Carol, When the Grass Stops Growing: A War Memoir. Leo Cooper, London, 1997.
Mayhead, Chas, Rumours: A Memoir of a British POW in WWII. Pleasure Boat Studio, New York, 2002.
Medd, Peter and Frank Simms, The Long Walk Home: An Escape Through Italy. John Lehmann, London, 1951; new edition, The Long Walk Home: An Escape in Wartime Italy with additional material from Andrew Adams, Marcus Binney [son of Frank Simms] and Frank Simms. Sickle Moon Books, London, 2019.
Millar, George, Horned Pigeon. Heinemann, London, 1946.
Millar, I.G.S., A Long Walk: A Young Soldier’s Escape from POW through North Italy and Yugoslavia. Privately published, Auckland, New Zealand, n.d. [c. 1996].
Millar, J.H.D., The Memoirs of J.H.D. Millar written for his family, edited by Vermiglia Concetti, Filippo Ieranò, Antonio Millozzi and Giuseppe Millozzi. Associazione Casa della Memoria, Servigliano, 2008 [bilingual English/Italian].
Miller, John, Friends and Romans: On the Run in Wartime Italy. Fourth Estate, London, 1987.
Mills, John Brent (ed., with a contribution), Gap in the Wire: Tales of Escape and Survival in Italy During World War II. Owl Press, Sydney, 1998.
—, Waiting for the Sunrise. Stewart, Cape Town, 1946 [novel].
Monsey, Derek, The Hero Observed: A Plain Tale of 1944. Victor Gollancz, London, 1960; Knopf, New York, 1961 [novel].
Morgan, Guy, Only Ghosts Can Live. Crosby Lockwood, London, 1945.
Morphew, Jeff, Five Frontiers to Freedom. Vineyard International, Cape Town, 1999.
Moss, Eric, Solvitur ambulando (Saved by Walking). Amberwood, Swanage, 1990.
Murray, Ian, Another Time, Another Life: My Life as a PoW. Privately published, Cape Town, 2012.
Murray, W.H. [William Hutchison], The Evidence of Things Not Seen: A Mountaineer’s Tale. Bâton Wicks, London, 2002.
Mustardé, J.C. [John Clark], The Sun Stood Still. The Pilot Press, London, 1944.
Naravane, A.S., A Soldier’s Life in War and Peace. APH Publishing Corp., New Delhi, 2004.
Neame, Lieutenant-General Philip, Playing with Strife: The Autobiography of a Soldier. Harrap, London, 1947.
Newby, Eric, Love and War in the Apennines. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1971.
Newby, Wanda, Peace and War: Growing up in Fascist Italy. Collins, London, 1991.
Newnan, William L., Escape in Italy. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 1945; reprinted, edited by A. Kendall Hall. Privately published, 2017; https://archive.org/details/EscapeInItaly/page/n7/mode/2up.
Nisbett, Alfred, Always Tomorrow – Sempre Domani. Athena Press, London, 2008.
Noble, Ronnie, Shoot First!: Assignments of a Newsreel Cameraman. Harrap, London, 1955.
Oates, Lynette with Ian Sproule, Australian Partisan: A ‘Rat of Tobruk’ with the Italian Partisans. A True Story of Love and War. Military History Memoirs Series, Loftus, NSW, 1997; also published in Italian as Partigiani Australiani nel biellese: una storia vera d’amore e di guerra. Tipografia Baima & Ronchetti, Castellamonte, Torino, 2017.
Oliver, A.E.V., Kriegie. George Mann, Maidstone, 1998.
O’Neill, George, Enough for Survival. Privately published, Grahamstown, South Africa, 1985.
Orebaugh, Walter W., with Carol Jose, Guerilla in Striped Pants: A US Diplomat Joins the Italian Resistance. Praeger, New York, 1992; 2nd edition retitled as The Consul. Blue Note, Florida, 1994; also published in Italian as Il Console: Un Diplomatico Americano si unisce alla Resistenza Italiana. Edizioni Nuova Prhomos, Città di Castello, 1994.
Origo, Iris, War in Val d’Orcia. Jonathan Cape, London, 1947; also published in Italian as Guerra in val d’Orcia. Diario 1943–1944. Le Balze, 2000.
Orna, Joseph with Hugh Popham, The Escaping Habit. Leo Cooper, London, 1975.
Page, Arthur, Una Bella Passeggiata: Or a Walk in Wartime Italy. Air Forces Publishing Service, 1995; also published in Italian as Sempre Giù all Montagne. Ass. Cult. Viaindustriae Publishing, Verchiano, 2018.
Perry, S.V., ‘Fate has smiled kindly’, Comprehensive Biochemistry, 40 (1997), pp. 383–462.
Peyton Jones, Loftus, Wartime Wanderings. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2019.
Pope, William Henry, Leading from the Front: The War Memoirs of Harry Pope. Laurier Centre for Military, Strategic and Disarmament Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, 2002.
Ranfurly, Hermione, Countess of, To War with Whitaker: The Wartime Diaries of the Countess of Ranfurly, 1939–45. Heinemann, London, 1994.
Rawlings, Alf, Diary of Life in a Stalag: A New Zealand Soldier’s Wartime Story. Privately published, Timaru, NZ, 1991.
Reid, Ian, Prisoner at Large: The Story of Five Escapes. Gollancz, London, 1947; also published in Italian as Un prigioniero in Fuga: Storia di cinque evasioni. Editoriale Umbra, Foligno, 2019.
Reynolds, Ben, Call Me Corp. New Holland, London, 2015.
Riddiford, Daniel, Committed to Escape: A New Zealand Soldier’s Story. Ruamahanga Press, Martinborough, NZ, 2004.
Robinson, Newman I., Missing, Believed Prisoner: The Story of a South African Prisoner of War. Privately published, Durban, 1944.
—, and Peter Ogilvie (illustrator), In the Bag. Macmillan, Johannesburg, 1975.
Rogers, Bob, Sixty Bonus Years: A Tale of Survival. Privately published, NZ, 2003 (digital version: https://archives.msmtrust.org.uk/pow-index-2/rogers-bob/).
Rose-Innes, Harry, The Po Valley Break: The True Story of Three POWs and Their Bid for Freedom in Mussolini’s Italy. Valiant, Sandton, South Africa, 1976.
Rosmarin, Ike, Inside Story. W.J. Flesch & Partners, Cape Town, 1990.
Ross, Michael, From Liguria with Love: Capture, Imprisonment and Escape in Wartime Italy. Minerva Press, London, 1997; new edition The British Partisan: Capture, Imprisonment and Escape in Wartime Italy. Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2019.
Rossiter, Jack, ‘You’ll Never Make It’: The Escape Diary of Pte Jack Rossiter, August–September 1943. Englang Publishing, Cirencester, Glos., 1992.
Sadler, Mike, The War Story of Soldier 124280. 30° South Publishers, Pinetown, South Africa, 2014.
Salvi, Ramchandra G., Whom Enemies Sheltered: A Saga of Human Love in the Midst of World War. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, 1983; also published in Italian as Aiutati dai Nemici. Cultura e Dintorni, 2018.
Sampson, David, After Tobruk: The Conducted Tour. Privately published, Durban, 1986.
Schou, Martin, Mountains of Freedom. Privately published, Durban, 2000; also published in Italian as Sugli Appennini verso La Libertà. Privately published, Durban, 2000.
Scott, Arch, Dark of the Moon. Cresset Books, Auckland, NZ, 1985.
Scott, Douglas, My Luck Still Held. Unie-Volkspers Beperk, Cape Town, 1946.
Sexton, Winton, We Fought For Freedom. Burton Publishing, Kansas City, Missouri, 1948.
Simpson, William C., A Vatican Lifeline: Allied Fugitives, Aided by the Italian Resistance, Foil the Gestapo in Nazi-Occupied Rome, 1944. Leo Cooper, London, 1995; also published in Italian as La guerra in casa 1943–1944. La resistenza umanitaria dall’Abruzzo al Vaticano. Sulmona, 2004.
Skinner, S.F.W., Sulmona & After. Privately published, n.d. [c. 1989].
Souza, Ken de, Escape from Ascoli: Story of Evasion and Escape. Newton, Cowden, Kent, 1989; also published in Italian as Fuga dalle Marche. Prigionia ed evasione di un ufficiale di aviazione inglese (1942–1944). Affinità Elettive Uguccione Ranieri Di Sorbello Foundation, Ancona, 2005.
Spooner, Pat, A Talent for Adventure. Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2012.
Stone, Brian, Prisoner from Alamein. H.F. & G. Witherby, London, 1944.
Summers, Gerald, The Lure of the Falcon. Collins, London, 1972.
Symonds, A.J., ‘You’re Free!’: The Story of Life and Service in Campo PG 53. Christian Endeavour Union of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1948.
Tomkins, Steve, Of Mice and Angels: The Story of a Welsh Prisoner of War. Privately published, Torquay, 2018.
Unwin, Frank, Escaping has Ceased to be a Sport: A Soldier’s Memoir of Captivity and Escape in Italy and Germany. Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2018.
Vasey, R.G.W., ‘Escape’, Blackwood’s Magazine, 256:1549 (November 1944), pp. 301–09.
—, ‘Prison Life in Italy’, Blackwood’s Magazine, 257:1553 (March 1945), pp. 196–203.
Vaughan, Geoffrey D., The Way it Really Was: A Prisoner of War during World War II Recounts. Granary Press, Budleigh Salterton, 1985.
Vercoe, Tony, Yesterday’s Drums: Echoes from the Wasteland of War. Steele Roberts, Wellington, NZ, 2001.
Verney, John, A Dinner of Herbs. Collins, London, 1966; also published in Italian as Un pranzo di erbe. Qualevita, Sulmona, 2014.
—, Going to the Wars. Collins, London, 1955.
Wallis, Arthur James Charles, Nothing Better to Do: Personal Memoirs of World War II. Privately published, 1997.
Ward, Edward, Give Me Air. Bodley Head, London, 1946.
Westheimer, David, Sitting It Out: A World War II POW Memoir. Rice University Press, Houston, Texas, 1992.
Weymouth, Guy, AWOL: In an Italian Prison Camp and Subsequent Adventures on the Run in Italy 1943–1944. Tom Donovan Publishing, London, 1993.
Williams, Leslie, Letters to My Daughter: Reminiscences of a POW. Privately published, Stockport, 2004.
Winter, Albert, Behind the Wire: Life as a Prisoner of War during WWII. Propagator Press, Leeds, 2005.
Winter, Peter, Free Lodgings. Reed, Auckland, NZ, 1993.
Yeoman, Allan, The Long Road to Freedom. Random Century, Auckland, NZ, 1991.
Secondary sources
Absalom, Roger, A Strange Alliance: Aspects of Escape and Survival in Italy, 1943–1944. Leo S. Olschki, Florence, 1991; also published in Italian, L’alleanza inattesa: Mondo contadino e prigionieri alleati in fuga in Italia (1943–1945). Pendragon, Bologna, 2011
Aceves, Crystal, Captured by the Enemy: The True Story of POW Carl Leroy Good. Privately published, 2015
Ayers, Gabrielle, Luigi. Privately published [Grosvenor House Publishing], 2020
Barber, Noel, Prisoner of War: The Story of British Prisoners held by the Enemy. Harrap, London, 1944
Barbieri, Valentina and Vincenzo Ritorto, From Fontanellato to Home: The Story of Lieutenant Hugh Davidson Sillito. Privately published, 2018
Beecroft, W.R., Unbroken: The Heroic True Story of a Group of Anzac POWs in WWII Europe. Brolga Publishing, Melbourne, 2011
Bolwell, Jan, Milord Goffredo: A daughter rediscovers her fatherʼs war in Italy. Steele Roberts, Wellington, NZ, 2002
Bunbury, Bill, Rabbits & Spaghetti, Captives and Comrades, Australians, Italians and the War. Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 1995
Carver, Tom, Where the Hell Have You Been? Short Books, London, 2009
Chambers, George W., Keith Argraves, Paratrooper: An Account of the Service of a Christian Medical Corpsman in the United States Army Paratroops During World War II. The Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tennessee, 1946
Chambers, Joan, For You the War is Over: The Story of Herbert Rhodes (Aussie) Hammond. Haum, Cape Town, 1967
Copley, Anne, The Girl with a Peach: Courage and Compassion in Wartime Italy. Monte San Martino Trust, London, 2024
Dethick, Janet Kinrade, As If He Were My Brother: Italians and Escapers in Piedmont 1943–1945. Privately published (Lulu.com), 2021
—, The Bridge at Allerona: 28 January 1944. Privately published (Lulu.com), 2012
—, Il Campo Prigionieri di Guerra 54. Privately published (Lulu.com), 2019 [in Italian]
—, The Long Trail Home: Allied Prisoners of War in Umbria, 1943–44. Privately published (Lulu.com), 2016
—, Montebuono 13/04/44. Privately published (Lulu.com), 2019
— and Anne M. Corke, Twixt the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: The Story of the Crew of HMS Saracen. Privately published (Lulu.com), 2018
Di Mattia, Gabriella, Campo 78: The Aussie Camp. Accademia delgi Agghiacciti, Sulmona and Museo Italiano, Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 2016 [bilingual English/Italian]
Dornan, Peter, Nicky Barr: An Australian Air Ace. Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW, 2002
Dorney, Richard, An Active Service: The Story of a Soldierʼs Life in the Grenadier Guards, SAS and SBS, 1935–58. Helion, Solihull, 2009
Duke, Vic, Another Bloody Mountain: Prisoner of War and Escape in Italy 1943.
Iron City Publications, Hebden Bridge, 2011
English, Ian R. and Harry Moses, For You Tommy the War is Over: The Experiences of the Durham Light Infantry Prisoners of War during World War II. Business Education Publishers, Sunderland, 2006
Felton, Mark, Castle of the Eagles: Escape from Mussoliniʼs Colditz. Icon Books, London, 2017
Fenton, Ken, Alamein to the Alps: War in the Piedmont with Mission Cherokee and the Lost Anzacs 1943–45. Frontier Press, Nelson, NZ, 2011
—, ANZACS at the Frontiers, 1941–45, Northern Italy, 2 vols. Privately published, Nelson, NZ, 2008
Fleming, Brian, The Vatican Pimpernel: The Wartime Exploits of Monsignor Hugh OʼFlaherty. Collins Press, Cork, 2008
Foot, M.R.D. and J.M. Langley, MI9: Escape and Evasion. Bodley Head, London, 1979
Gallagher, J.P., Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican. Souvenir Press, London, 1967; also published in Italian, La primula rossa del Vaticano. Mursia, Milano, 1993
Gaskill, Malcolm, The Glass Mountain: Escape and Discovery in Wartime Italy. Allen Lane, London, 2025
Gaskill, Malcolm (foreword), Camp 65: The Memory that Remains. Prisoner-of-War Camp Altamura-Gravina, 1942–43. Associazione Campo 65, Italy, 2024; also published in Italian, Campo 65: La Memoria che Resta. Associazione Campo 65, 2020
Gilbert, Adrian, POW: Allied Prisoners in Europe, 1939–1945. John Murray, London,
2006
Guss, David M., The 21 Escapes of Lt Alastair Cram. Macmillan, London, 2018
Hall, D.O.W., New Zealand Prisoners in the Second World War, Official History, Prisoners of Italy. War History Branch, Dept. of Internal Affairs, Wellington, NZ, 1949
Hobbs, Gynn B. (ed.), From Sicily to the Alps: Personal accounts and recollections of World War II in Italy. Mallard Publishers, Claremont, South Africa, 1999
Horn, Karen, In Enemy Hands: South Africaʼs POWs in World War II. Jonathan Ball Publishing, Jeppestown, South Africa, 2015
Hullis, Shaun, Captains Courageous: Gunner Gregg, Donny Mackenzie and the Liberation of the Nure Valley, 1944. Privately published, 2014
Hutchison, David and David Johnson (eds), Stuart Hood: Twentieth-Century Partisan. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 2020
Ieranò, Filippo, A People’s Courage: Civil Resistance in German-occupied Italy. Monte San Martino Trust, London, 2022; first published in Italian, Antigone nella Valle del Tenna, Consiglio Regionale delle Marche, Ancona, 2002
Jacobs, Susan, Fighting the Enemy, New Zealand POWs and the Italian Resistance. Penguin Books, Auckland, NZ, 2003
—, In Love and War: Kiwi Soldiers’ Romantic Encounters in Wartime Italy. Penguin Books, Auckland, NZ, 2012
Jones, Francis S., Hit or Miss: Being The Adventures of Driver Randle Barlow. Allan Wingate, London, 1954
Kisler, Mary, The Dark Dad: War and Trauma — a daughter’s tale. Massey University Press, Auckland, NZ, 2025
Kittel, Katrina, Shooting Through: Campo 106 Escaped PoWs and the Italian Armistice. Echo Books, 2019
Lamb, Richard, War in Italy, 1943–45: A Brutal Story. John Murray, London, 1995
Leigh, Maxwell, Captives Courageous: South African Prisoners of War – World War II. Ashanti Publishing, Johannesburg, 1992
Lett, Brian, An Extraordinary Italian Imprisonment: The Brutal Truth of Campo 21, 1942–1943. Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2014
—, Italy’s Outstanding Courage: The Story of a Secret Civilian Army in World War Two. Privately published, 2018
McGill, David, POW: The Untold Stories of New Zealanders as Prisoners of War. Mills, Lower Hutt, NZ, 1987
Marsh, Stella Clare, The Twisted Florin: Evasion from France, Escape from Italy: Squadron Leader John Mott MBE. Uniform, 2016
Mason, W. Wynne, Prisoners of War, Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45. War History Branch, Dept of Internal Affairs, Wellington, NZ and OUP, 1954; reprinted Naval & Military Press, Uckfield, 2009
Millar, Florence N., The ʻSignor Kiwiʼ Saga. Privately published, Gisborne, NZ, 1993
Millozzi, Giuseppe, Prigionieri alleati: cattura, detenzione e fuga nelle Marche: 1941–1944. Uguccione Ranieri di Sorbello Foundation, [Perugia], 2007
Milroy, Vivian, Alpine Partisan: The Survival of Trooper Southon. Hammond, Hammond, London, 1957
Minardi, Marco, Bugle Call to Freedom, translated by John Simkins. Monte San Martino Trust, London, 2020; first published in Italian, L’Orizzonte del Campo. Mattioli, Fidenza, 2015 (2nd edition)
Monteath, Peter, Escape Artist: The Incredible Second World War of Johnny Peck. NewSouth Publishing, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2017; Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2018
Newton, Robert A., Soldiers of the Strange Night. Freedom Street Press, Hillsboro, Oregon, 2015
Reeves, Valerie and Valerie Showan, Dan Billany, Hullʼs Lost Hero. Kingston Press, Hull, 1999
Reid, Howard, Dadʼs War. Bantam Press, London, 2003
Robillard, Chris, From Barry to Bari. Devon Matters Publishing, Bovey Tracey, 2015
Rollings, Charles, Prisoner of War: Voices from Captivity during the Second World War. Ebury Press, 2007
Sandford, Kenneth, Mark of the Lion: The Story of Capt. Charles Upham, VC and Bar. Hutchinson, London, 1962
Smith, Gladys, Forty Nights to Freedom: The True Prisoner of War Escape Story of Wing Commander Stewart F. Cowan. Queenston House, Winnipeg, 1984
Smith, Ruby Simon, Wine, Cheese & Bread: A POWʼs Story of Survival in Italy, as told by Charles Webster Smith. Woodburner Press, Austin, Texas, 1998
Smollan, Jeff, Escape to Anzio: Stan Smollanʼs 2nd World War Saga. Privately published, 2017 Taylor, A. Gordon, ‘Corporal Bob Adamsʼ, Blackwoodʼs Magazine, 259:1564 (February 1946), pp. 126–34
Trevelyan, Raleigh, Rome ʼ44: The Battle for the Eternal City. Secker & Warburg, London, 1981
Trumble, Tom, Tomorrow We Escape: one manʼs extraordinary story of courage and survival from Tobruk to the prison camps of occupied Europe. Penguin, Melbourne, 2015
Tudor, Malcolm, British Prisoners of War in Italy: Paths to Freedom. Emilia Publishing, Newtown, Powys, 2000
—, Escape from Italy, 1943–45: Allied Escapers and Helpers in Fascist Italy. Emilia Publishing, Newtown, Powys, 2003
—, Prisoners and Partisans: Escape and Evasion in World War II Italy. Emilia Publishing, Newtown, Powys, 2006
Walker, Stephen, Hide and Seek: The Irish Priest in the Vatican who Defied the Nazi Command. Collins, London, 2012
Warren, C.E.T. and James Benson, The Broken Column, The Story of James Frederick Wildeʼs Adventures with the Italian Partisans. Harrap, London, 1966
Windsor, John, The Mouth of the Wolf. Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1967
Woods, Alan, Without the Nasty Bits: A Soldier’s Story. Alan Woods, NZ, 2021
Woods, Rex, Night Train to Innsbruck: A Commandoʼs Escape to Freedom. William Kimber, London, 1983
—, One Manʼs Desert: The Story of Capt. Pip Gardner, VC, MC. William Kimber, London, 1986
—, Special Commando: Wartime Adventures of Lt. Col. Robert Wilson, DSO and Bar. William Kimber, London, 1985
Wright, Matthew, Escape! Kiwi POWs on the Run in World War II. Random House, Auckland, NZ, 2006
Young, Nicholas, Escaping with his Life: From Dunkirk to D-Day and Beyond. Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2019