207186 Spr. Charles George Kobelke Australian Army Engineers from:Western Australia. Charles George Kobelke was a POW at Stalag X111C. I am no relation, but during the war when 14 years of age, my school, in England, encouraged us to 'adopt' and write to a British POW. I chose Charles because it was said he was a newspaper man from WA.
My mother and I sent him parcels of magazines and knitwear and some tins of goodies and smokes. He replied on a few occasions and then I learned that he was being transferred to another Stalag which was supposedly for 'Blind' POWs. I received a photo from him of a strong looking man in the Australian Slouch Hat and army uniform, sitting smoking a pipe.
On discharge my mother and I were waiting to hear from him on his arrival in the UK. We never ever heard anymore. I have since learned that he was a printer with a newspaper, not a journalist, and apparently not blind!
I have obtained full information concerning Charles from the Australian National Archives. They are great to deal with. I thought this may be useful for anybody else trying to find out about the Australian forces.
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