ADDRESSES OF WAR PRISONERS

Southland Times, Issue 24548, 24 September 1941, Page 6

ADDRESSES OF WAR PRISONERS

DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING EXACT INFORMATION Judging from the experience of an Invercargill resident, whose son was taken a prisoner of war during the fighting in Greece, it is difficult to learn, even through official channels, the exact address of a prisoner of war. The first news of the whereabouts of this particular soldier came in the form of a printed postcard which read: “I have been taken prisoner of war in Germany. I am in good health. We will be transported from here to another camp within the next few days. Please de not write till I give the new address.” The card has the name, rank and number of the soldier, but these are not in his handwriting and the address also was not written by him. The card bears the stamp “Stalag 306 XVIII D” and is dated June 26. Later the soldier’s fathei- received a notification from the prisoner of war inquiry office of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society. It was sent from Wellington and was dated September 1. It stated that official word had just been received that the soldier was a prisoner of war at Corinthia, Greece. A week or two later the father received word from the New Zealand military authorities that his son was understood to be at Stalag 306 XVIII D. It will be noted that this presumably was the camp at which the soldier was held as prisoner when the printed postcard was despatched on June 26, and, according to this card, he was to be moved from there in a few days time.