BROTHERS MEET

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1944, Page 7

BROTHERS MEET

PRISONERS OF WAR EXCITING ADVENTURES The news that his two sons are alive, though prisoners of war in Germany, has been received by Mr. Raethel, of Blockhouse Bay, formerly of Matamata. The story goes back to 1940, when an echelon left New Zealand. In it were Mr. Raethel's two sons, lan and Douglas. They sailed by different ships, met in Egypt, and later sailed for Greece. Douglas spent seven months hiding in the hills of Greece after the British forces left, and was then taken prisoner of war. Lan Raethel got to Crete, but was made prisoner of war there, and was taken to Stalag 88, in Germany. They each wrote to their father, and later corresponded with each other. When the Italians went out of the war last year, the whereabouts of Douglas Raethel was unknown, and he was listed as one of many soldiers missing. Meanwhile, lan Raethel was transferred to Stalag 8A on November 12 last year. There he met his brother Douglas, whom he had not seen since 1941. The brothers are again united, and their father has been advised they are both well.