Historical information

Part of the Thomason Collection. See Cat No. 4136P for further details.
1. Photograph is of Sgt Albert Williams VX15912, 2/24 Battalion. Born Geelong Vic, 3 March 1919. Enlisted 24 August 1940 at Caulfield, Vic. Discharged 13 Sept 1945. He was captured at Tobruk in 1941. Listed as a POW on 26 .6.41, and sent to Capua, Italy on 1.1.42. Escaped to Yugoslavia 23.10.42 and recaptured 27.10.42. Transferred to Stalag 18A (Wolfsberg, Austria) 28.12.1943 after Italian Armistice. Released to UK 4.8.1945.
2. Letter from Mary Williams to son Albert Williams dated 22nd April, 1945. In the letter, Mary relates local news. Letter was sent via AIRMAIL.

Stamp on back of 1. (Gepruft, Stalag XV111A) possibly a forgery created by prisoners to avoid camp censor, Gepruft means checked or passed. Prisoners made these stamps to circumvent censors in order to send letters and parcels.

Physical description

1. Black and white photograph of an Australian Army Soldier in uniform standing in front of a truck. Another soldier standing behind. Egyptian Pyramids visible in background.
2. Double sided handwritten letter in black ink on quarto sized paper.

Inscriptions & markings

1. Stamped on back in blue ink: “Gepruft, Stalag XVIII A 73". Stamped on back in black ink: “226”
2. Handwriting in black ink.