PRISONERS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 32, 2 November 1942, Page 4

PRISONERS OF WAR

Advice To Relatives Next-of-kin of 600 prisoners of war concerning whom official notifications were received last week by the Prisoners-of-War Office, Wellington, are being advised that they will receive by post the official brochure giving all details in connexion with prisprfers of war, their mail and quarterly parcels. This will save them from calling at the P.O.W. office. In addition there are special instructions regarding the supply of woollen garments, and where, knitting wool is available, coupons and the special Red Cross label for their first parcel are also enclosed. There are also copies of the latest pamphlets with much, information and extracts from prisoners’ letters. Next-of-kin are advised that the camp address will be notified to them when it becomes known by the New Zealand Government and not by the Prisoners-of-War Office.

The International Red Cross have advised this week that the Italians allow only khaki-coloured shorts. Next-of-kin whose relatives have been prisoners for more than nine months, and who have letters stating that the prisoner has not yet received their personal parcels sent from New Zealand, are requested to send full details to the P.O.W. headquarters, Wellington. Next-of-kin who have been advised by their prisoner relative that he has not received any mail from New Zealand are also requested to send full details to P.O.W. headquarters.

The special International Red Cross message forms issued by the P.O.AV. office to each next-of-kin when their relative is first notified as an official prisoner of war are enabling many next-of-kin to get an urgent reply from their relative. The official notifications of prisoners of war are: Army, 7527; Air Force, 220; Navy, 16; merchant seamen and civilians, 39; miscellaneous, 35; total, 7537. Unofficial cases, three.

BRITISH JOURNAL FOR NEXT-OF-KIN

AVith the last lot of parcel labels issued to next-of-kin of British prisoners ot war was issued, in New Zealand, as elsewhere, copies ‘of the new journal entitled "The Prisoner of AA’ar,' tne official journal of the Prisoner of AVar Department, St. James’s Palace, London, vol. 1 No. 1, of this journal, includes the good wishes of Her Majesty the Queen in the following words:— "As president, of the British Red Cross Society I have watched with close interest the varied aspects of the merciful work carried out by the Red Cross and St. John war organization., I am giau now to learn that the Prisoner of AVar Department is to publish a special monthly journal for the enlightenment and guidance of prisoners next-of-kin. Thev are often in my thoughts and m my prayers, specially the mothers and wives, the sisters, and the betrothed ot those who have fallen into enemy hanos. Loss of freedom is hard to bear for those wno have lived as free men in a tree country, and-it is hard, too, for those who wait at home, to go cheerfully about their daily tasks in the knowledge that someone near and dear to them is in exue and a prisoner. I hope that it may be of some small consolation to them to know that the Red Cross is striving by every means in its power to lighten the lot of British prisoners of war and inaae them feel they aee ever m the thoughts of those at home. I wish the Red Crosa God-speed in its good work. —Elizabeth R.”