LIFE IN PRISON CAMP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20634, 9 December 1941, Page 2

LIFE IN PRISON CAMP

N.Z. PRIVATE’S ACCOUNT WORK ON CANAL BUILDING The working conditions of New Zealand prisoners of war in. Germany are described in a letter received from Private Stuart Wilson by his father, Mr. W. A. Wilson,- of Helensville. Private Wilson formerly lived in Whangarei, and went overseas with the Second Echelon. “I fought in Greece, and when we were surrounded I, with eight others, escaped into the' hills and for two months evaded capture, leading a life of hardship,” Private Wilson writes. “Eventually we were caught on the island of Lemnos, four hour’s sail from Turkey, and freedom. “We were sent to Salonika, where there were many more of our men. Life here was tough. Next we were sent to a base camp in Germany and then drafted out to various working camps. I am with a par.y of GO men, mostly Australians and New Zealanders, and we are constructing canals, working 10 hours a day for 5£ days a week, for which we are paid Is 6d a day. “The food is good enough to keep the pangs of hunger at bay,” he adds. “Breakfast, is bread and coffee, dinner is stew and potatoes and tea, more stew. On Sundays we get jam and cheese, and a dash of either beer or wine. As British soldiers we still have some slight standing." r