Richard Trevor Casey (known as Trevor) was the youngest child of John Patrick and Florence (nee Townsley) Casey. His older brother John Clutha Casey was killed during a training flight with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm in England in 1939. He had one sister, June Moreen Casey (later Anderson).
Trevor worked as a plumber, possibly for his father who was also a plumber, before enlisting as in the Army with the 2nd NZ Divisional Petrol Company as a Driver.
He was reported as missing in June 1941 however it appears he escaped several months later and was able to cable his parents to let them know he was safe. His status as missing but then not missing was confirmed when his name appeared in the published casualty list in September 1941.
He then wrote home to his parents in a letter, that was later published in the Taranaki Daily News, where he told them about his escape. He said after Allied forces capitulated in Crete in May 1941 he was taken to a prison camp in Canea. However he and another man escaped, and they hid in the mountains of Crete, for about a month. Eventually they found a way to escape to Egypt where in Alexandria they were able to reunite with New Zealand forces.
“We are in hospital for a couple of days and then will be off for 10 days leave to Palestine. We could get no soap or sometimes water while we lived our hermit life in the mountains, and reached here bearded and filthy, but A1 physically,” wrote Trevor.
However, Trevor’s war was not over. In January 1942 he was listed as missing and by February he was confirmed to be a POW once again. His mother Florence Casey read out a letter, during a Prisoners of War Relatives Association meeting, that she received from her son in March 1943. He was being held in camp PG 70 in Italy where he described a comfortable POW existence.
“I’m leading a lazy and almost luxurious life. Red Cross food parcels come along regularly now – one per man per week. We all owe a great deal to the Red Cross Society. I take exercise morning and evening twice around the grounds – half a mile a lap – and I’m keeping fit.” Although he acknowledged finding footwear was difficult.
Despite his description of life in the camp, Trevor was still not happy to remain there, because by November 1943 he had escaped again and was listed as safe and no longer a prisoner of war.
By January of 1944 Trevor had arrived back in New Plymouth, no doubt to the relief of his parents and sister.
A Taranaki News Reporter noted his return, and that of a number of other former POW on the same train. The reporter said he had tried to get some of the stories behind Casey’s escapes, but the soldier dodged most of his questions saying he disliked publicity.
However, the reporter was able to ascertain some details of his escape from the Italian camp 78-1, near Sulmona. Casey, along with a group of other men, had fled the camp and disguised as civilians and avoiding roads and relying on the hospitality of villagers, had walked and climbed about 200 miles across the mountainous country until they reached the British 8th Army, near Portenza. They were able to reach the British lines as the German line had not been properly formed at that stage. They were assisted in their journey by two Italian guides.
After the war Trevor continued to live in New Plymouth and work as a plumber. He died here on 18 March 2000 and is buried at the Awanui Cemetery.
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