HC Deb 05 June 1919 vol 116 cc2248-51W
Captain C. CRAIG

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private H. Bolam, No. 9232, No. 2 Company, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, met his death in December, 1914, as the result of being severely beaten with a wooden post by the German camp authorities at Schneidemuhl Camp, Posen, on or about the 4th November, 1914; what was the nature of the report, if any, given by the Germans on Bolam's death; whether the regimental authorities and next-of-kin have been officially informed as to this soldier's brutal treatment and cause of death; and what action His Majesty's Government intend to take in this matter?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Private Bolan received a flogging at Schneidemuhl Camp in November, 1914. He subsequently died in hospital on the 8th February, 1915. Despite some conflict of evidence, it appears probable that he died from typhus, and that his death was not in any way consequent on his previous ill-treatment. No date and no cause of death were given in the German report of his death. The evidence that he died from typhus was obtained from another prisoner of war at Schneidemuhl. The regimental authorities and next-of-kin were informed that he died of typhus. The facts of the case have been laid before the Committee appointed by the Attorney-General to investigate alleged breaches of the laws of war.

Captain CRAIG

asked the Secretary of State for War whether evidence has been taken from returned prisoners of war as to the circumstances under which Private A. Skett, No. 6055, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, met his death while on commando at Latchen, Kurland, on or about 6th April, 1917; if so, will he state these circumstances; whether he is aware that the whole details of this case were personally reported by Company Sergeant-Major William Acton Francis, No. 7078, 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, to Mr. Vrendenburgh, the Dutch representative in charge of British interests, at Libau on or about 5th June, 1917; if he will say at what date His Majesty's Government learned for the first time of Private Skett's death; and on what date the officer commanding the Coldstream Guards and the deceased soldier's next-of-kin were officially informed as to the exact circumstances of his death; and what action His Majesty's Government proposes to take to bring those responsible for the death of Private Skett to justice?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Evidence has been taken from repatriated prisoners of war on this subject. The circumstances in which Private Skett met his death appear to have been as follows: On 6th April, 1917, Skett, a prisoner of war at Pinue, on the Eastern Front, being exhausted after a long march in the snow, was unable to proceed. He was ordered by the sentry to move on. On his replying that he was unable to do so, the sentry deliberately killed him. The report received from the German Government stated that Skett feigned inability to move, and that in the circumstances the sentry was justified in shooting him. Company Sergeant-Major Francis, on reaching Holland in 1918, stated that he had informed Jonkheer van Vredenburgh, when he visited Libau, of all the facts regarding the death of Private Skett. Inquiry was at once made of this gentleman, who was then Netherlands Minister at Stockholm, but he was unable to recall any communication having been made to him on the subject. The notes made by him during his visit to Libau were then searched in the Netherlands Legation at Berlin, but they contained no reference to this case. The first intimation that Private Skett had died was received in June, 1917, but this report did not state the cause of death. A statement was obtained from Germany in reply to inquiries made as to the circumstances of death, and was communicated to the Officer Commanding, Coldstream Guards, for notification to the next-of-kin, on 11th December, 1918. The facts of the case have been laid before the Committee appointed by the Attorney-General to investigate alleged breaches of the laws of war.

Captain CRAIG

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private W. McGraa, No. 7894, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, met his death on or about 8th December, 1914, in consequence of being tied to a post in the open in a snowstorm for three hours at Gustrow Camp, Mecklenburg; whether evidence has been taken from returned prisoners of war on this point; whether the regimental authorities were officially informed as to the circumstances under which Private McGraa met his death; if so, on what date and what was the tenor of the information; and what action His Majesty's Government intends to take in this matter?

Mr. CHURCHILL

It has been ascertained from repatriated prisoners of war that Private McGraa was tied to a post for three hours in a snowstorm on the 7th December, 1914, at Gustrow Camp, and died early the following day. It appears probable that his death, which was stated by the German Government to be from pneumonia, was the result of this treatment. Evidence has been taken from repatriated prisoners of war on the subject. The next-of-kin would have been informed in March, 1915, through the officer commanding the regiment that Private McGraa died of pneumonia if he had known the address at the time. The addresses of Private McGraa's brother and sister were subsequently ascertained, and they were notified in June and July, 1915, respectively. The facts of this case have been laid before the Committee appointed by the Attorney-General to investigate alleged breaches of the laws of war.

Captain CRAIG

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Private W. E. Stimpson, No. 5507, 1st Battalion, Cold-stream Guards, was struck with a drawn sword by the German camp-adjutant at Schneidemuhl Camp, Posen, on or about the 7th November, 1914, and in consequence became paralysed and died as the result of these injuries on or about 6th January, 1915; whether evidence has been taken from returned prisoners of war on this point; whether the regimental authorities and next-of-kin were officially informed of the details of this man's death; if so, on what date and what was the nature of the report; and what action His Majesty's Government intends to take against those responsible for Stimpson's death?

Mr. CHURCHILL

It has been ascertained from repatriated prisoners of war that Private Stimpson was wounded in the thigh by the German adjutant at Schneidemuhl Camp on or about the 7th November, 1914. He was not admitted to hospital till January, 1915, and he died in hospital on or about the 6th of that month. The notification of death received from the German Government does not state the cause of death, but it is believed to have been typhus, as was unofficially reported by the Geneva Red Cross. The next-of-kin were informed on the 19th October, 1915, through the officer commanding, Coldstream Guards, that Private Stimpson had died of typhus. Evidence has been taken from repatriated prisoners of war on the subject, and the facts of the case have been laid before the Committee appointed by the Attorney-General to investigate alleged breaches of the laws of war.