KOREA (BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR)

HC Deb 08 December 1952 vol 509 cc14-5W

Colonel J. H. Harrison

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the British prisoners of war in North Korean and Chinese hands were prisoners of the Japanese in World War II; and how many of these were compulsorily recalled as reservists.

Mr. Head

Of those who are prisoners of war or believed to be so, nine were prisoners of the Japanese in the late war. These men were compulsorily recalled as reservists.

Brigadier Medlicott

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers, who were formerly prisoners of war of the Japanese, are now serving in Korea; and how many of such former prisoners of war are now prisoners in the hands of the North Koreans.

Mr. Head

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question could only be obtained by a special check of the records of all men in Korea. There are eight British soldiers who were prisoners of war of the Japanese now held as prisoners of war in North Korea, and one who is missing and believed to be a prisoner of war.