§ 110. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement about the circumstances in which a German prisoner of war, Obergefreiter Alfred Ruf, of Stuttgart, was found hanged at Grange Farm, Colesdon, Bedfordshire, on 17th January; and whether he is satisfied that men in trouble for family reasons have full opportunity of seeking help and advice from experienced and sympathetic authorities.
§ Mr. BellengerAlfred Ruf had been working with another prisoner for some time at Grange Farm. He was a good worker, in good health and normally cheerful. On 17th January he disappeared during a meal break and when a search was made he was found to have hanged himself with the tapes of his cape. The finding at the inquest was that he had hanged himself while unsound of mind. His friends have no idea why he should have committed suicide. His parents and wife are dead and he had no children. I am satisfied that Commanders of Prisoner of War Camps are ready to give sympathetic help and advice to prisoners who have domestic troubles.