South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 03 January 1942

News from Prisoner

“The best Christmas present I received,” is how Mrs. R. Otley, 243. Wath Road, Mexborough, describes a letter and photograph she received on Christmas morning from her husband, Guardsman Richard Otley (30), who is a prisoner of war in Germany.

In his letter Guardsman Otley says: “We are all well, but it is only thanks to our weekly Red Cross parcel.” He joined the Army for seven years in 1928 and while on reserve worked at Doncaster. He was called up on the outbreak of war and was taken prisoner in France just before Dunkirk.

A native of Mexborough, he attended Doncaster Road School. His parents, who live in Pitt Street, Mexborough, are caretakers of Pitt Street School.

Mrs. Otley receives a letter from her husband about every six weeks, but the letters she writes to him do not arrive very regularly and often Guardsman Otley receives five or six delayed letters at a time.

His sister Margaret, has been in the A.T.S. for two years and thinks the life grand. She Is 22.