George Thornton, eighteen-years-old Sheffield pit lad, thinks himself fortunate that he is not now a prisoner in Germany.
While on holiday in Germany with a friend during the summer, he and his friend, inspired merely by curiosity, travelled eighty miles of the Siegfried Line and saw many interesting things. It was not until about to cross Belgium that they came under notice.
For hours the Germans searched every corner of their car. Each article of clothing was minutely examined, and even the spare tyre was deflated to make sure that nothing was secreted inside. Their camera and some exposed films were taken from them.
Thornton gave little thought to his adventure, but mentioned it to an ex-officer working as an enumerator in connection with the National Register. A day or two later Government officers called upon Thornton, and got from him every detail of his holiday experiences.
The Irish Times, November 6th, 1939.