Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2016 23:16:19 GMT 12
From the Auckland Star, Volume, dated 3 July 1941:
"SOMETIMES I SIT AND THINK..."
N.Z. AIRMAN
PRISONER OF WAR
LIFE IN NAZI CAMP
HOW do New Zealand boys fare in German camps as prisoners of war? With thousands of our men posted as missing, this question is in everyone's mind to-day. Allow A391861 Sergeant Gunner Lawrence Francis Mabey, Royal New Zealand Air Force, who has been a prisoner for ten months, to assist you towards an answer.
Things are not so bad. At any rate. Sergeant Mabey finds it possible to be happy, although nostalgic for the folks at home. His next of kin are Mr. and Mrs. F. Mabey, of Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North. To them he can write twice a month, and judging by the contents of his letters, he may receive any reasonable quantity of mail.
As Gold To a Prospector
Letters mean everything to a prisoner of war. "Dear Mum and Dad," wrote Sergeant Mabey, in one of his earliest letters. "I want you to know that letters from home are what gold must be to a prospector and when I read your first letter the other day it almost brought tears to my eyes. I think it was the happiest day since I've been a prisoner. I realise what a blow it must have been to hear I was missing, but I'm glad that you heard I was safe as soon as you did. I did receive the parcel in England, but I'm afraid I must have become a prisoner before the tiki, cake and chocolate arrived. I have allotted the maximum amount of my wages to you at
home, as I think it will be easier to get it cabled from home if I get a long leave in England after the war and perhaps have need of money. Please tell everyone in Palmerston North I appreciate their goodwill, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. I will write as often as I can and will you ask lots of folks in Palmerston to write, though I may not be able to answer them all. With love to all the family, yours....
Twenty-five Ruled Lines
If you get a letter from a prisoner of war it won't be much longer than that, because there is space on the 'issue" letter paper for only that number of words. On one side it has 25 ruled lines. The sheet is 11½in long by 6in wide. At the top it is shaped like the flap of an envelope. About two-thirds of the way down there is a slit, such as might be made by a razor-blade. Into this the flap fits snugly when the sheet is folded into three, and at first glance the thing would pass for an ordinary envelope. On the front across the top, it has the printed word "Kriegsgefangenenpost." Below there are ruled lines for the address with directional words in German. Thus, below the two principal lines there are three subsidiary lines the first of which is marked "Empfangsort." On this Sergeant Mabey writes "Palmerston North." On the next line, labelled "Strabe" he writes "North Island." and on the third marked "Land" he puts "New Zealand." In the bottom left-hand corner there is the single word "Gebuhrenfrei!" just like that with a staccato point of exclamation.
And on the back it says "Absender Vor-und Zurname." And there the sergeant writes his full name. Below it commands. "Gefangenennummer and the sergeant puts his R N A Z F number. The printed words go on to remark "Lager-Bezeidnung: Dulag Luft. Deutschland (Allemagne)," and that's the job. Each envelope bears a censorship mark imposed by a narrow oblong ink-stamp, inscribed "Dulag-Luft Gepruft." with the German censor's initials in the left-hand corner.
"Do Write Legibly!"
These censors of letters from prison camps have their worries. They suffer from eye-strain, apparently, like censors everywhere in an effort to cope with bad "hand-writing. But, with characteristic German thoroughness, they seek to remedy this. On the inside of the folder a rubber stamp is sometimes used to impose the plea "TYPE your letter or DO write legibly!" with the two words in capitals. It's an almost exasperated plea. Dunner und blitzen! These stupid English! One can hear the Nazi official cursing And it's worthy of note that this printed reminder about legible writing is the only thing in English on the folder when it is issued.
This article about Sergeant Mabey's letters would never have been written, had it not been for the fact that he used one of these same folders to write to a famous American breakfast food company, in Battle Creek, Michigan, asking them to send a sample packet so that he might "balance his diet." As related in the "Star" last week, the breakfast food company was intrigued with this request, wrote it up. with Sergeant Mabey's name and German prison camp address, and featured it in a trade magazine, which found its way to Australia. There an ex-Auckland girl clipped the item and sent it to the "Star." Thereupon, through the good offices of the Air Secretary, the "Star" made contact with the sergeant's next-of-kin. Mrs. Mabey has kindly forwarded all the letters she has received from her son.
Nineteenth Birthday In Germany
Sergeant Mabey offered his services on the outbreak of war, and went into the ground training school at Levin on December 18, 1939. Then he went on to the R.N.Z.A.F. station at Ohakea to learn his gunnery. By March, 1940, when only 18 years of age, he was on his way to England. In August, when out on a bombing operation, he had to bale out, and became a prisoner of war. He spent his nineteenth birthday as a prisoner, last March.
"I only hope," writes Mrs. Mabey. "that something in my boy's letters may bring comfort to the mothers of other New Zealand boys."' The letters need not be fully quoted here. They are simple enough, in all truth, but, in their brave resignation to circumstance, they are calculated to bring tears to the eyes of the average parent.
In his first letter, Sergeant Mabey says: "Dear Mum and Dad, I suppose by the time this reaches you, you win have learned I am a prisoner of war in Germany. You have no need to worry, though, as I am in the best of health, and just as cheerful as ever. Could you send me chocolates and food of some sort that will keep? You will have to send it through the Red Cross." And that is all, apart from an inquiry concerning members of the Mabey family. This letter is post-marked Geneva.
They Rise At 8.10 a.m.
Another early letter says: "I am at a loss to know what to write about, owing to the fact that life is much the same. We get up regularly at ten past eight o'clock, parade at 8.30, dinner at 12 o'clock, tea at 5 o'clock. Those are the only interesting things that happen here, except when a general visits the camp. In fact we have had two generals visit us this month. The rest of the time we spend walking around the compound, reading, writing or sleeping. As that great poet said, 'Sometimes I sit and think, and other times I just sit.' Still, it's remarkable what a great spirit there is in this camp amongst the boys. There are two other New Zealand lads here that came down of lat." And that was about all in that letter.
The young prisoner of war wrote several references to Christmas, these were wistful lines, with reference to the family's usual camping tour and the New Zealand sunshine. How the poor boy wished he were home for Christmas. Still things were not so bad. The Red Cross had sent parcels. "They were like gifts from heaven. They contained biscuits, honey, tins of different kinds of fish, and pastes and jam. By jove I m looking forward to a bacon pudding when I get back home" And the brae little postscript, "Merry Christmas and New Year'
Later on he tells how the boys organised a concert party "The Follies of 1941." That was fun. And the High Commissioner Mr Jordan was among the first to write to him "It was beastly cold here. In fact one of the boys was bringing a water can across from the cookhouse to the hut, a matter of 200 yards, and the handle froze to his hand. It was 25 below that day." And now he is growing a moustache, having just shaved off a marvellous beard which he grew during the cold weeks.
Verse, Art and Cards
"Don't worry, I'm in grand company. PS Keep the home fires burning."
"Dear mum and dad I wonder if life is really not a nightmare considering the sort of life I have been leading for the past year. Had I not been through as much as I have, I would have scarcely believed it possible. Well, I guess by next Christmas I will be well on my home if not already home by then. By jove I'm getting to be a real card-sharp now. as we play about four hours a day. Also, I am becoming a great 'Monopoly' player And I'm going back to poetry — I've written quite a bit so far. I think I will write a book — the fellows here tell such amazing tales. They are hardly credible P.S: I have been doing a lot of art work, which I hope to bring home.
Letters from home are the bright spot in life."
"Get some of that home brew put away for when I come home. "You can send only 101b of chocolate at a time. You had better send through the Red Cross, as that is the only way they will reach me."
"Well, I'm in the best of health and have a lot of friends here, so I guess I could be worse off. You can tell mum and all the rest that I'm doing O.K
"When you write next, please send me a couple of photos, and tell me how the wrestling and football are going on. I guess you had better polish up on bridge, because I'm getting to be a grand player now!" "P.S.: Write often, please!"
And that's what it's like in Nazi prison camp 223, Stalag Luft!
"SOMETIMES I SIT AND THINK..."
N.Z. AIRMAN
PRISONER OF WAR
LIFE IN NAZI CAMP
HOW do New Zealand boys fare in German camps as prisoners of war? With thousands of our men posted as missing, this question is in everyone's mind to-day. Allow A391861 Sergeant Gunner Lawrence Francis Mabey, Royal New Zealand Air Force, who has been a prisoner for ten months, to assist you towards an answer.
Things are not so bad. At any rate. Sergeant Mabey finds it possible to be happy, although nostalgic for the folks at home. His next of kin are Mr. and Mrs. F. Mabey, of Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North. To them he can write twice a month, and judging by the contents of his letters, he may receive any reasonable quantity of mail.
As Gold To a Prospector
Letters mean everything to a prisoner of war. "Dear Mum and Dad," wrote Sergeant Mabey, in one of his earliest letters. "I want you to know that letters from home are what gold must be to a prospector and when I read your first letter the other day it almost brought tears to my eyes. I think it was the happiest day since I've been a prisoner. I realise what a blow it must have been to hear I was missing, but I'm glad that you heard I was safe as soon as you did. I did receive the parcel in England, but I'm afraid I must have become a prisoner before the tiki, cake and chocolate arrived. I have allotted the maximum amount of my wages to you at
home, as I think it will be easier to get it cabled from home if I get a long leave in England after the war and perhaps have need of money. Please tell everyone in Palmerston North I appreciate their goodwill, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. I will write as often as I can and will you ask lots of folks in Palmerston to write, though I may not be able to answer them all. With love to all the family, yours....
Twenty-five Ruled Lines
If you get a letter from a prisoner of war it won't be much longer than that, because there is space on the 'issue" letter paper for only that number of words. On one side it has 25 ruled lines. The sheet is 11½in long by 6in wide. At the top it is shaped like the flap of an envelope. About two-thirds of the way down there is a slit, such as might be made by a razor-blade. Into this the flap fits snugly when the sheet is folded into three, and at first glance the thing would pass for an ordinary envelope. On the front across the top, it has the printed word "Kriegsgefangenenpost." Below there are ruled lines for the address with directional words in German. Thus, below the two principal lines there are three subsidiary lines the first of which is marked "Empfangsort." On this Sergeant Mabey writes "Palmerston North." On the next line, labelled "Strabe" he writes "North Island." and on the third marked "Land" he puts "New Zealand." In the bottom left-hand corner there is the single word "Gebuhrenfrei!" just like that with a staccato point of exclamation.
And on the back it says "Absender Vor-und Zurname." And there the sergeant writes his full name. Below it commands. "Gefangenennummer and the sergeant puts his R N A Z F number. The printed words go on to remark "Lager-Bezeidnung: Dulag Luft. Deutschland (Allemagne)," and that's the job. Each envelope bears a censorship mark imposed by a narrow oblong ink-stamp, inscribed "Dulag-Luft Gepruft." with the German censor's initials in the left-hand corner.
"Do Write Legibly!"
These censors of letters from prison camps have their worries. They suffer from eye-strain, apparently, like censors everywhere in an effort to cope with bad "hand-writing. But, with characteristic German thoroughness, they seek to remedy this. On the inside of the folder a rubber stamp is sometimes used to impose the plea "TYPE your letter or DO write legibly!" with the two words in capitals. It's an almost exasperated plea. Dunner und blitzen! These stupid English! One can hear the Nazi official cursing And it's worthy of note that this printed reminder about legible writing is the only thing in English on the folder when it is issued.
This article about Sergeant Mabey's letters would never have been written, had it not been for the fact that he used one of these same folders to write to a famous American breakfast food company, in Battle Creek, Michigan, asking them to send a sample packet so that he might "balance his diet." As related in the "Star" last week, the breakfast food company was intrigued with this request, wrote it up. with Sergeant Mabey's name and German prison camp address, and featured it in a trade magazine, which found its way to Australia. There an ex-Auckland girl clipped the item and sent it to the "Star." Thereupon, through the good offices of the Air Secretary, the "Star" made contact with the sergeant's next-of-kin. Mrs. Mabey has kindly forwarded all the letters she has received from her son.
Nineteenth Birthday In Germany
Sergeant Mabey offered his services on the outbreak of war, and went into the ground training school at Levin on December 18, 1939. Then he went on to the R.N.Z.A.F. station at Ohakea to learn his gunnery. By March, 1940, when only 18 years of age, he was on his way to England. In August, when out on a bombing operation, he had to bale out, and became a prisoner of war. He spent his nineteenth birthday as a prisoner, last March.
"I only hope," writes Mrs. Mabey. "that something in my boy's letters may bring comfort to the mothers of other New Zealand boys."' The letters need not be fully quoted here. They are simple enough, in all truth, but, in their brave resignation to circumstance, they are calculated to bring tears to the eyes of the average parent.
In his first letter, Sergeant Mabey says: "Dear Mum and Dad, I suppose by the time this reaches you, you win have learned I am a prisoner of war in Germany. You have no need to worry, though, as I am in the best of health, and just as cheerful as ever. Could you send me chocolates and food of some sort that will keep? You will have to send it through the Red Cross." And that is all, apart from an inquiry concerning members of the Mabey family. This letter is post-marked Geneva.
They Rise At 8.10 a.m.
Another early letter says: "I am at a loss to know what to write about, owing to the fact that life is much the same. We get up regularly at ten past eight o'clock, parade at 8.30, dinner at 12 o'clock, tea at 5 o'clock. Those are the only interesting things that happen here, except when a general visits the camp. In fact we have had two generals visit us this month. The rest of the time we spend walking around the compound, reading, writing or sleeping. As that great poet said, 'Sometimes I sit and think, and other times I just sit.' Still, it's remarkable what a great spirit there is in this camp amongst the boys. There are two other New Zealand lads here that came down of lat." And that was about all in that letter.
The young prisoner of war wrote several references to Christmas, these were wistful lines, with reference to the family's usual camping tour and the New Zealand sunshine. How the poor boy wished he were home for Christmas. Still things were not so bad. The Red Cross had sent parcels. "They were like gifts from heaven. They contained biscuits, honey, tins of different kinds of fish, and pastes and jam. By jove I m looking forward to a bacon pudding when I get back home" And the brae little postscript, "Merry Christmas and New Year'
Later on he tells how the boys organised a concert party "The Follies of 1941." That was fun. And the High Commissioner Mr Jordan was among the first to write to him "It was beastly cold here. In fact one of the boys was bringing a water can across from the cookhouse to the hut, a matter of 200 yards, and the handle froze to his hand. It was 25 below that day." And now he is growing a moustache, having just shaved off a marvellous beard which he grew during the cold weeks.
Verse, Art and Cards
"Don't worry, I'm in grand company. PS Keep the home fires burning."
"Dear mum and dad I wonder if life is really not a nightmare considering the sort of life I have been leading for the past year. Had I not been through as much as I have, I would have scarcely believed it possible. Well, I guess by next Christmas I will be well on my home if not already home by then. By jove I'm getting to be a real card-sharp now. as we play about four hours a day. Also, I am becoming a great 'Monopoly' player And I'm going back to poetry — I've written quite a bit so far. I think I will write a book — the fellows here tell such amazing tales. They are hardly credible P.S: I have been doing a lot of art work, which I hope to bring home.
Letters from home are the bright spot in life."
"Get some of that home brew put away for when I come home. "You can send only 101b of chocolate at a time. You had better send through the Red Cross, as that is the only way they will reach me."
"Well, I'm in the best of health and have a lot of friends here, so I guess I could be worse off. You can tell mum and all the rest that I'm doing O.K
"When you write next, please send me a couple of photos, and tell me how the wrestling and football are going on. I guess you had better polish up on bridge, because I'm getting to be a grand player now!" "P.S.: Write often, please!"
And that's what it's like in Nazi prison camp 223, Stalag Luft!
