Regret to inform you...

Meanwhile, back home in New Zealand, Bill’s mother had received the telegram that all mothers dreaded, on New Years Day 1944:

Regret to inform you that your son Flight Sergeant William Milner Smith has been reported missing on air operations…

Minister of Defence, telegram to Mrs Alice Smith, 1 Jan 1944

1999/195.14eh

Below are the original telegram and following letter:

• Telegram
• Letter

The next month was an incredibly anxious time for Bill’s mother, father, and fiancée Clare, as they desperately waited for confirmation of what had happened to him.  During this time, Mrs Smith received many letters of support from friends, acquaintances, even the Mayor of Dunedin.  She also received a letter all the way from England, from the mother of Bill’s friend and fellow crew member, Bill Coleman:

My Dear Mrs Smith,

I had intended writing you before but have been in bed with shock so now I am better I take this opportunity to offer our condolences in this terrible time of anxiety…  we pray and hope we shall have some good news of them soon, but it’s this terrible waiting, if only we could do something, one feels so helpless…

Mrs Frances Coleman, letter to Mrs Alice Smith, 30 Jan 1944

1999/195.14ci

Below are some of the letters sent to Mrs Alice Smith after her son Bill was reported missing:

• Letter of support from Mrs Coleman p.1
• Letter of support from Mrs Coleman p.2
• Letter of support from Mrs Coleman p.3
• Letter of support from Cadbury's
• Letter of support from the Mayor of Dunedin

All worst fears were finally laid to rest when Mrs Smith received an official letter (click to view POW letter) from the Air Department on 29 January 1944, advising that her son was now a prisoner of war.  This was an enormous relief, and as soon as she had confirmation of Bill’s location, she sent him a message via the International Red Cross.  See below to read this message.

• Mrs Smith's letter to her son p.1
• Mrs Smith's letter to her son p.2

Next section: Stalag IVB.