On a night march towards Germany, he escaped with two colleagues by hiding under a blackberry bush. They had no compass except the stars. During the day they hid in woods, and begged food off the farmers. Keith said the farmers in occupied France were magnificent and never refused to offer food or advice. Coming near a German patrol, a young lad helped them hide in his hay cart while his pretty sister distracted the Germans.
They were nearly caught twice, on one occasion they walked unchallenged through rows of tents full of snoring Germans. The sentry must have thought Keith and friends were cows! A few days later they reached the north coast of France, and found a small boat, hoping to sail home. But the tides were unfavourable and there was too much enemy activity to wait around in the area. So, changing their uniforms for peasant clothes, they set off south, heading away from home…