Using the assigned red cross reference number AM/113829, first issued atop their letter dated 20th June 1944 (Blog Post 13 - 10/02/21), Edwards family appear to have continued correspondence in the hope of acquiring more news.
On the 12th of February 1945 their request was met. The Red Cross, referencing the enquiries they had presumably made as a result of Edwards families requests, provided the following letter:
The reply noted as having been provided two months earlier on 19th December 1944 reads simply "Best Health". Whilst unlikely to be an exact quote or even an extract of one edited by the camps authorities, i expect this comment is designed only to confirm Edwards continued existence at Stalag VIII C.
Whether this provided comfort to Edwards parents or further frustration is unknown. Given how many families had loved ones imprisoned in such camps at the this time i suspect such statements were both common and their meaning understood.
Merely knowing your son was alive at this time given the families limited knowledge of the camps and their conditions must have provided some sense of relief and connection; however small.
The letter ends noting their hope that the family have in fact heard from Edward directly. Due to the stage the war was at during this time, this may have proven challenging outside of the access the Red Cross enjoyed. There are certainly no records of such letters in the documents collection i am exploring but thats not to say it didn't occur.
If they did not hear from Edward separately, this letter represents their first contact with Edward since his imprisonment.
It appears clear that Edwards family were persistent in their requests for further information and will likely have replied to the Red Cross seeking further comment.
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