RELEASED IN ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1943, Page 3

RELEASED IN ITALY

NEW ZEALAND PRISONER RETURN TO ALLIED LINES (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, October 25. News that the Italians had opened the Sulmona prisoners’ camp No. 78 to allow the men to escape from the Germans has reached London. It is contained in a letter dated October 6, sent from Sicily to Mr C. B. Burdekin, Prisoners of War Department, by Private W. J. Browne, Wanganui, who, walking alone, reached the British lines in 16 days. The letter said: “We Kiwis who have been prisoners of war will never be able to thank you enough for the services you have rendered us. For the past five months I have been at No. 1 labour camp P.G. 78 (Sulmona). On October 11 the Germans were a few miles away and coming to take over our camp, so the Italians released us. Many like myself set out to walk to the British lines, but many others were unable to attempt it, because of the bad state of their boots. Walking alone, I reached our forward troops 16 days later. Since then, I have been slowly getting nearer Egypt. “I am writing primarily to ask if you can please cable my mother, Mrs T. P. Browne, 16 Muir Street, Wanganui, that lam safe and free. I believe all my mates of the First Echelon have returned home, so I should be lucky enough to be home for Christmas. I wish my return passage would be arranged via England, as I have never been there.” It is possible that Browne is now in Egypt. The Prisoners of War Department had the names of 107 New Zealanders at Sulmona, but there may have been more, as some were being transferred from Camp 85.