PRISONER OF WAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 150, 3 September 1941, Page 5

PRISONER OF WAR

LIFE QUITE PLEASANT LETTER FROM MAJOR LE LIEVRE Probably the first letter from a prisoners camp to be received is from Major C. A. Le Lievre, of Whakatane, and feeling that other people whose husbands or sons have been captured may be interested to know of the conditions under which the men are held, Mrs Le Lievre has handed us the letter for publi- 1 cation. It reads as follows;—• Here I am a prisoner of war in Germany. Good camp about 1800 feet above sea level on a hill similar to Waipukurau Read enclosed circular and consult Red Cross. I require winter underwear, sox, balaclava, etc. Winter will be very cold here. Send woolly slippers if possible. Enclose chocolate if weight permits. I have lost all except clothes captured in Clothes parcel of lOlbs allowed from you each three months. I am very! well and just the weight I was when I went to Narrow Neck in November, 1939. Fought in two battles 15-16 April Platainam Pass and 18th April Temple Gorge. Taken prisoner on Anzae Day with 103 New Zealanders and Australians while waiting for a boat. 21 st B.N. officers pris-< oners of war with me are Wally Saul and Ned Smith. Cannot trace" Yeoman. He was alive and well after the 18th April. This seems a healthy position for camp and have at present ideal summer weather. Iji this camp are many off!" of the highly, respected 51st Division. They have had a year of the prisoners of war life and are. still cheerful. My only real worry (s that you as yet will only know I am "missing." Your worry over me is the worst part of all. Owr life is simple. No work, reading, sunbathing and educational classes and waiting for meal time makes up our days. Camp sanitation is good and conditions healthyi—very different from Greece. Send me snaps of yourself and family. I long for the war to finish, so as to get back to you all and take over Eil 1 your farm worries. I was allowed to write to you from Greece. Did you get three letters and JusLine one? Tell Evelyn Sgt Nolan was killed on April 18. Tell Mr Havter, Whakatane Hotel, Cpl Kellogher is a prisoner of war and is welt. (The 51st Division are the Dunkirk Officers).