South Yorkshire Times, November 27th 1943
In Germany Now
“We have been doing a lot of travelling since last I wrote to you from Italy,” writes Trooper William Arthur Wadsworth to his parents from Stalag 8b. Germany.
“We were all very excited when they told us (of the collapse of Italy. where he had been interned in P.G. 52) but four days later we moved off on our long journey to Germany. We expected this to happen.” ‘Trooper Wadsworth expresses the opinion that the war will soon be over and adds, “I believe I shall be cleaning the ‘bike’ up for the Easter holidays and won’t I make it crack?”
Tpr. Wadsworth is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Wadsworth, of 14, Dolcliffe Road, Mexborough, and to-day (Friday) is his birthday. He was taken prisoner a year ago while serving with the Royal Tank Regiment. In his last letter before being captured he told his parents that his tank had shot down a Stuka dive bomber.
Before the war he was a keen cyclist, being racing secretary of Rockingham Wheeler’s and one of the club’s best riders. Formerly employed at Baker and Bessemer, Ltd., Kilnhurst, he joined up in July, 1940, and went abroad on his birthday in the same year.