"Escaping is the most exciting activity" wrote Daniel Riddiford, describing two years of his life from November 1941 when he was captured in North Africe at Sidi Rezegh, to Christmas 1943, when he finally rejoined the Allied Forces in Italy.

In the interval he had been in six prison camps across three countries, changed his identity twice and made two attempted escapes. His third attempt, disguised as a Frenchman, from the Austrian camp of Spittal was successful.

His subsequent adventures in the mountains of Northern Italy and at the hands of the Partisans in Yugoslavia make fascinating reading. For his part in helping to lead a large group of escaped POWs through Yugoslavia to freedom, he was awarded the Military Cross.

In the remaining 17 months of the war, he rejoined the 6th Field Regiment in Italy and was wounded. He was seconded as Intelligence Officer to the Special Boat Service (a branch of the SAS), completed his parachute training and was involved in operations with the Partisans in Istria until hostilities ended.

Back in New Zealand as a Territorial, he commanded 52 Battery, 5th Light RNZA and was for many years a director of the Dominion newspaper. He practised Law, farmed in the Wairarapa, married Yvonne Westmacott and had six children. In 1960 he entered Politics as the National Party member for Wellington Central, and from 1969 served in Keith Holyoake's Cabinet as Minister of Justice, Associate Minister of Labour & Immigration and as Attorney General.

He retired from Parliament in 1972 for health reasons and died in 1974 aged 60.

(Rear cover: Committed to Escape, by Daniel Riddiford), Allen & Unwin

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