Letter from prisoner-of-war camp, Germany, 31 January, 1943.

This letter was sent to Mrs Beany O'Connell of Christchurch by W.J. Cox, prisoner number 4210, from Stalag XVIIIA, a World War II German Army (Wehrmacht) prisoner-of-war camp located to the south of the town of Wolfsberg, in the southern Austrian state of Carinthia, then a part of Nazi Germany.  It reads: Dear Beany,  At last I am able to sit down and try to write you a few lines.  News that I am able to write about is very scarce, so I will have to try and do the best with out it. I hope that you are still keeping in the best of health, and keeping the old spirits up.  I will be very glad when old man winter has gone. For the last three months there has been nothing to see but snow, so the old green grass and trees will be a very welcome sight in the spring. I am not feeling the cold no where as bad this winter as last. It is very good to hear about what Lichie and Art are doing, I only wish I was with them.  So poor old Les has gone away now. I suppose you girls notice a big difference at the dances these days. Well Beany I must bring this letter to a close now, hoping this letter finds you in good spirits, but not for them. Bill.