PRISONER IN GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24827, 29 January 1942, Page 9

PRISONER IN GERMANY

LETTER FROM PRIVATE W. GIFFIN A letter has been received by Mr D. Giffin, France street, Oamaru, from his son Private Winston Giffin, who is a prisoner of war at Stalig VIIIB, Germany, giving fuller particulars of conditions at this camp than is usually done by post or letter-card. The letter was first sent to Mr Giffin's brother in England, and thence by air mail to New Zealand. Private Giffin writes that he was captured in Crete on June 1, and subsequently arived in Germany by way of Greece, Bulgaria, Jugoslavia, and Austria. He found conditions good at the camp, and said he was keeping exceptionally well and feeling quite contented with the conditions. The food was good, and he received from the camp a good stew and two hot drinks daily, besides one-fifth of a loaf of bread, margarine, cheese, and jam. The rations were greatly supplemented by the weekly Red Cross parcel, which, he said, " was hard to beat." There was a good library in the camp, and the inmates were not at a loss " for reading materials. The weather was very cold, but the prisoners were quickly being fitted out with warm clothing. Private Giffin concluded his letter by writing: "Snow is very prevalent in these parts, so it will probably get much colder, but I am ready and waiting for it with thumbs up."