WAR PRISONERS CHRISTMAS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24270, 30 May 1944, Page 5

WAR PRISONERS CHRISTMAS

e FESTIVITIES IN THE CAMPS EXTRACTS FROM MBITS LETTERS New Zealanders in German prison camps accomplished the celebration of Christmas and New Year with much of the festivity they might have enjoyed had they been at home, according to reports reaching the New Zealand Prisoners-of-War Inquiry Office through hundreds of extracts from the letters of soldiers and airmen to their relatives. In almost every camp a pageant or pantomime was arranged, and special dispensations were allowed for the preparation of special meals from Red Cross parcels and in the lifting of some restrictions. Major J. Abel. Dominion chairman of the Prisoners-of-War Inquiry Office, has selected the following extracts from letters to show how Christmas was observed:— Stalag 344: "My Christmas here was (he best I’ve spent since being a prisoner. We had special Christmas Red Cross parcels delivered to us on Christmas Eve. The boys put up a good show in the camp, with decorated huts, band recitals, and special church services. There are some ‘Jocks’ in this camp and they piped the old year out and the new year in, in real kilts, and, of course all followed with the singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ “Our Christmas dinner and the pantomime ‘Cinderella’ put on by the boys was a huge success. ‘Cinders’ and the ‘fairies’ were the last word in girls. They were rushed off their feet at the stage exit to see if they were the goods *or otherwise. Hard luck!— otherwise.” "I wish you could have seen the Christmas decorations in the various barracks. The material used was Red Cross packing papers and tin labels, coloured streamers, electric lamps, done up like old lanterns, and professional • artists drew in life-size paintings on the walls,; they were marvellous. The festive spirit, despite captivity as everywhere.” Stalag 383: ‘‘Mikado opens January 17. We were ready but could not provide costumes by Christmas; they were mostly made out of handkerchiefs. We’ve a drive on next week, and hope to raise 1000. There are 47 in 'the cast, all wanting kimonos and such like.” Stalag 4B: "After celebrating not too bad a Christmas we have just seen the New Year in. Naturally we were all very sober but the ‘Jocks’ in the camp had a real Scotch show In our hut, Highland dancing, pipes, and singing. On Christmas Day they had a big soccer match, England v. Scotland. Scotland won 4-3 after a very close game.**.. Stalag 8A: "On Christmas Eve we bad a community sing and smoke con- - cert. Our band, consisting of four ' mouth organs, ttyo mandolins, one guitar and a drum, carried us through in great style. On Christmas Day at 10 a.m. there was a church service and dinner at 6 p.m. was the best our wonderful Red Cross could give us. After dinner we had a toast list, songs _ and recitations. The toasts included folks at home, Red Cross, fallen comrades, comrades in arms, and fellow prisoners.” Stalag 18A; "On Christmas night we. had our own home-made Empire broadcast. .Chaps from all parts of the Empire read out a greeting from their ■ particular country, the message being preceded by their national song.”