Italian POW letter sent by Fred Hughes to his mother and father, c. 1943, front [image 1 of 2]
Item Reference : cny03541

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Italian POW letter from Fred Hughes to his mother and father, 14 December 1942, back [image 2 of 2]

Description

The frustration of not receiving letters from loved ones is evident in Fred's letter; 'well dear its hard to find what to write when you don't get any reply so please dear write as often as you can and let me know how everything and everyone are'. Fred served with the Royal Engineers as a Sapper. During his time overseas he kept in regular contact with his parents and his sister, Edith. Fred's mother died in 1943 while he was a POW. Fred served in North Africa but was captured and taken prisoner of war towards the end of 1942. He was sent to a camp in Italy before being transferred to Austria. He was killed in an allied air raid on 20 August 1944 and is buried in Auschwitz municipal cemetery. His brother Charles also served but returned safely to North Wales.

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