Letters and Postcards from Charles Spink to his family - Part 2

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2017.6.95
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 14

Kriegsgelangenensendung Absender: er istratia Baracks N 2 Cellelager 6 (Prov. Hannover) Dentschland. 1000000000 Mrs. Hettlewel 2 Mt MlsS Der 1 t
AD am ehestet Me D. Scak al Ad. Littmann, Oldenburg 2L2 77 as you & children our loving husbund
Kriegs efangenensendung. ABsender Baracke Cellelager6 (Prov. Hannover) Dentschland. Youglas Street anMl that +
791 22 see that surperised ace ay with you 12 B eag. is getting on with the Farm whether had ageed ba crop a hoping this reashrge ortm over to ving husband. CLarko &2 S AMSM DIS
CCHEI2S 26/1916 Kriegsgefangenensendun Absender Sfr Buss Die unned PrOHEMO Sog harbe 618 tre Sc Hustra Soth
pted t them to en ho aame rememd some in the sun llis i Georye Atrmen CAisener e 16/1916 ay received two of our tsell Fan 4 Enen or heep 9 but abald our btter tem I also had a letter eventer
Kriegsgefangenensendung Absendor Baracke Nr. Cellelager6 (Prov. Hannover Dentschland. C 2.10
fear Ad. Litimann, Oldenburg ta of them road a 5
Absender: 21 NE 67) a 6 eldpastkarte Agen. Homman- dantr t Cest t t to
Kriegsgefangenen-Lager d
pld.-near His Foote was picture oron the dthat awonds a striking o weight burhood of of a lare n it exer less than frequentl) o Arong ot one of fin thart teudentof n to Mat SEPTEMBTN14, 1915. REATMENT-OFIPRIS 12o NCER Grosssates Guardsman Returns With Remarkable Stary of Hardships. Private James Law, Seots Guards a Cross sates coldiar, has returned to his home after spending eight months as a prisoner in Ger many. He-Was Captuced on January 25.— About 100 of the enemy entered the trench where he was, and Law was wounded in three places- the left thigh, chest, and right shoulder. He lost much blood and became unconscious He was in a semicomatose condition for nearly four days, and found himself in the hands of the Germans. One his soldier endearoured to baxonst him, and was only restrained by a mare humane comrade who confided to Law in good English that war was a dreadful thing. He remained in hospital for ten days& and was fed during that period entirely on hot milk. His wounds were dressed by the Germans, and he was conveyed to Douan, which was in German hands Here French civilians were allowed to visit the wounded. Law and his French conpanions were fairly, well looked after, and he was kept there for a month. At) the end of that period he was transferred to Koln Fortress hospital, where he found four other British prisoners They were well treated in hospital, and Law, who was now able to walk a short distance, was allowed out) one hour every day. Coffee, black bread, and vegetable soun farmed the principal articles of diet.—He remained in the fortress until May 14, when he was removed to comp at Stendal, where he found 7000 Russian, French, and British prisoners Miserable LHe in Camp. Life in camp was very miserable. Those who were able to work were sent out in butohes to pull ploughs, barrows, &c. Food was very had and, according to Law— would not have been given dven to pigs in Scotland. Black coffee was served without sugar or milk, and so strong that the men could not drink it. Thefood? called, bread ap peared to be composed of potatoes, oilcake, and bran. It was soft and damp, and would, said Law, have made a aplendid substitute for putty. It was indigestible, and made most of the men ill.— Latterly Law subsisted almost entirely on food sent from home Even worse than the bread was the?potato soup The prisoners were given plenty of awatary mixture— containing— abundance of, potato thut it is Law's belief that the sentries got the potatoesf Another dish was herring soup- with the herring in a raw state—akin. scales, entrails, eyes, and everything mized together in a bucket. Postcards took a long time to reach home. If the writer praised the Germans the letter was paceed. If not, it was destroyed. O one occasiona German corporal interrupted 000 Law, who was engaged in paying a Law card and palled himof his t learned afterwards that he had been treated in this way because he. Dd not salute the corporal! He refused to do se ever wher he knew the truth.- Many of the Keyman Woldiery were downhearted regarding the isone of the One may said that in peace time he was given a bread ration of 4 lbe. oer day for his wife and children. That was now redaved to 11b. A publication called the Continental Times was isaued to the men pur- porting to give correct war news The soldiers rechristened it the Continentat Lisr. Twice a month the Russian prisonyrs were forced to hoist fags in elebration of supposed Ger- man-victories- Law was examined by Ger. man Professors three times before being ex- changed.. He has almost lost the power of his right arm, and his leg is stiff. He hopes to improve, but does not expect to return to his saliated former employment as a min pher ner nas dectered ALYTH TOWNCOUNCIL The monthly meeting of Alyth, Town Courcil was held last night-Frorost Sand lands in the chair. The Town Chamberlain C oetenent choret ncome, 265 4ira Rate Lure. 250 16s 2d, earplus, 214 ts 2d.
Cacheccoo accccceeeee s Kittle 12t KoN &21 at R 000000000 OCOAC ionereon JAOADN
y Bataillon, Nummer: Kriegsgefangenen-Lager N ssin
Ms pint barle Little Walker St 21 work 0

[*LONDON F.S.
PAID
May 16 16*]
Kriegsgefangenensendung.
Absender:
Driver C. Spink 
[*MAY 16 16*]
Baracke Nr. 1
Cellelager 6 (Prov. Hannover)
Deutschland.
Australia
Mrs. Charles. Spink
C/o Mrs. Kettlewell
Douglas Street
Stanmore Via Sydney
N.S.W. Australia
 

 

30/4/1916
Dear Eveline
Know doubt you will be wondering
how I am getting on, well I am as good
as can be expected under the presant
circumstances

I suppose

you are beginning to think this is lasting a 
long time & I can tell you I wont be sorry
when it is over hoping this finds you & children
well & all kind friends Your loving husband
Charlie

 

[*Gepraft
P 25
Cellelager*]
30/5/1916
Kriegsgefangenensendung.
Absender:
Driver C. Spink 
Baracke Nr. 1
Cellelager 6 (Prov. Hannover)
Deutschland.
Australia
Mrs. Charles. Spink
C/o Mrs. Kettlewell
Douglas Street
Stanmore Dr Sydney
N.S.W. Australia

 

30/5/1916
Dear Eveline
Just a P.C to let you know that I am
still keeping well as I was very pleased to
see that you & children were still keeping
in good health. I was surprised to see that
your Mother was down in Sydney with you
of course their is know doubt it will be a great
change to her you never mention how your Dad
is getting on with the Farm whether he had a good
crop or a bad one, hoping this reaches you safe from 

your ever loving husband. Charlie xxx
  

 

*Gepraft
P 25
Cellelager*]
5/6/1916
Kriegsgefangenensendung.
Absender:
Driver C. Spink 
Baracke Nr. 1
Cellelager 6 (Prov. Hannover)
Deutschland.
[*DEAD LETTER OFFICR
12 AUG
SYDNEY N.S.W.*]
[*Kommandadur F.a.
Cellelager*]
[*SYDNEY 
8 AUG 16*]
[*Sit  8/16*]
[Kommandandur
F.a.
Cellelager*]
[P.O.
Gunnedah*]
Mrs. Charles Spink
No 18 Little Walker Street 
North Sydney  N.S.W.
Australia 
No Post Office in NSW.
North Sydney 
again P
 

 

5/6/1916
Dear Eveline Pleased to say received two of your
letters one dated 28 Feb & 16th of March & very pleased
[*SYDNEY*]
to see that you & children are keeping well, but
them two men you were talking about in your letter
who came home with me, ^(I cant remember them) but if ever you see them you
can remember me to them & tell them I wish I was
home in the same place as them I also had a letter
from George Willie 
from your ever loving
husband Charlie Spink xxx

 

[*Gepraft
P 25
Cellelager*]
15/7/1916
Kriegsgefangenensendung.
Absender:
Driver C. Spink 
Baracke Nr. 
Cellelager 6 (Prov. Hannover)
Deutschland.
[*PR82/8*]
Australia
[Kommandandur
F.a.
Cellelager*]
Mrs. Charles. Spink
No 18 Little Walker St
North Sydney
N.S.W. Australia
 

 

15/7/1916
Dear Eveline
Just a P. C. to let you know that I
received two of your letters lately & was
pleased to see by them that you & children were
keeping well & and that you were having good
weather over their & I only wish I was with 

you as we are having miserable weather over
hear well dear I think their is a turn in the 
tide now but it cant come soon enough for me.
hope this finds you all well as I am well your loving

husband Charlie xxx. xxx. xxx.

 

Absender:
 Driver C. Spink
289 Bty B Sect
6/8/1916
Feldpostkarte
5
[*SOLTAU
21.8.16 2-3N
(HANNOVER)*]
Mrs. C. Spink
c/o Post Office
North Sydney
N. S. W
Australia"
[*NORTH SYDNEY
16.10.16
N.S.W*]
21 Little Walker 

Nth Sydney 
 

 

6/8/1916
Mrs. C. Spink
C/o Post Office
North Sydney
N.S.W
Australia
21 Little Walker St
Nth Sydney
 

 

Kriegsgefangenen-Lager    Soltan 6/8/1916
Dear Eveline

Just a P.C to let you know that

I received your letter's quite safe & was
very pleased to see by them that you & 
children a keeping well, as I am pleased to
say that this leaves me as good as can be
expected hoping that this finds you & children
& all enquirers well from your ever loving

husband C. Spink, xxx. xxx. xxx
 

 

Newspaper article - Treatment of Prisoners in Germany
 See original document.

 


[*LONDON F.S
PAID
SEP 2 16*]
Australia 9/8/1916
[*SOLTAU
HANNOVER*]
Mrs. Charles. Spink
C/o Post Office
North Sydney 
N. S. W.
Australia
21 Little Walker St
Nth Sydney 

 

Bataillon, Nummer:
Kriegsgefangerenen-Lager  Soltau
9/8/1916 
[*SYDNEY
N.S.W.*]

 

 Mrs Charles Spink
21 Little Walker St
North Sydney 

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