BRITISH CASUALTIES (ITALY)

HC Deb 16 February 1944 vol 397 cc175-6

46. Major Buchan-Hepburn

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the number of casualties sustained by British Forces in Italy.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. Between 3rd September of last year, the day on which British troops first landed on the mainland of Italy, and 12th February, the following casualties have been sustained by the British Armies in Italy, including Dominion and Indian troops:

Killed	…	7,635
Wounded	…	23,283
Missing	…	5,708
Total	…	36,626

This does not include Naval or Air Force casualties.

Mr. Rhys Davies

Does not the right hon. Gentleman remember that he promised that the figures of casualties would not be published until the beginning of April in reply to a question that I put to him?

The Prime Minister

I was referring then to the request which the hon. Gentleman made, namely, for the publication of all the Allied casualties. That requires a larger measure of examination before it can be given, but this particular statement I am able to make at the present time.