In Germany as Prisoner Of War

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 208, 2 September 1941, Page 7

In Germany as Prisoner Of War

KELVIN GROVE BOY WRITES HOME How do New Zealand boys fare in German camps as prisoners of war? With thousands of our men posted as missing, this question is in everyone’s mind to-day. Reports from both Bed Cross and the men themselves have boon favourable. Sergeant-Gunner Lawrence Francis Mabey, R.N.Z.A.F., who has been a prisoner for 12 months finds things not so bad despite the monotony of prison life.

His next-of-kin are Mr. and Mrs. F. Mabey, of Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North. To them he can write twice a month, and, judging by tho contents of his letters, he may receive any reasonable quantity of mail. Letters mean everything to a prisoner of war. “Dear Mum and Dad,” wrote Sergeant Mabey, in one of his earliest letters, “I want you to know that letters from home are what .gold must mean to a prospector, and when I road your first letter the other day it almost • brought tears to my eyes. I think it I was the happiest day since I have been I a prisoner ...” Sergeant Mabey offered his services on the outbreak of the war, and went into the ground training school at Levin on December 18, 1939. Then he went on to the R.N.Z.A.F. station at Ohakea to learn his gunnery. By March 1940, when only 18 years of age he was on his way to England. In August, when out on a bombing operation, he had to bale out, and became a prisoner of war. “I only hope,” writes Mrs. Mabey, “that something in my boy’s letters may bring comfort to the mothers of other New Zealand boys.” Sergeant Mabey’s letters have a truthful simplicity, and in their brave resignation to circumstance, they are calculated to bring tears to the eyes of the average parent. Another early letter says ”1 am at a ! loss to know what to write about, owing to the fact that life is much the same. ; We get up regularly at 8.10 a.m., parade jat 8.30, dinner at 12 o’clock, tea at 15 o’clock. Those are the only interesting things that happen here, except when a general visits the camp. In fact, we have had two generals visit us this month. The rest of the time we spend walking around tho compound, reading writing or sleeping. As the great poet said, ‘ sometimes I sit and think, and other times I just sit.’ Still, it’s remarkable what a great spirit there is in this camp amongst the boys. There are two New Zealand lads that came down of late.”

The young prisoner of war wrote several references to Christmas. These were wistful lines, through which flowed recollections of camp tours in warm New Zealand sunshine. Christmas at home! Still, things were not so bad. The Bed Cross sent parcels. “They were like igifts from Heaven.” Later on he tells of how the boys organised a concert party, 11 The Follies of 1941.” That was fun. And the High Commissioner, Mr. Jordan, was among the first to write to him. “It was beastly cold here. In fact, one of the boys was bringing a water can across from tho cookhouse to the hut, a matter of 200 yds., and the handle froze to his hand. It was 25 below that da/.”

“Dear Mum and Dad, I wonder if life is really not a nightmare, consider-

ing the kind of life I have been leading for the past year. Had I not been through as much as I have, I would have scarcely believed it possible. Well, I guess by next Christmas I will be well on my way if not already home by then. By jove, I’m getting to be a real card sharp now, as we play about four hours a day. And I’m going back to poetry—l’ve written quite a bit so far. I think I will write a book—the fellows here tell such amazing tales. They are hardly credible. Well I’m in the best of health, and have a lot of friends here, so I guess I could be a lot worse off. When you write next please send mo a couple of photos, and tell me how the wrestling and football are going onl P.S.—Please write often! ”

And that’s what It’s like in Nazi camp 223, Stalag Luftl