HC Deb 13 December 1944 vol 406 cc1245-6W
Sir L. Lyle

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Protecting Power has furnished any additional details regarding the shooting by the Germans at Tilsit of Warrant Officer Coles who was a prisoner of war.

Sir J. Grigg

Warrant Officer Coles, of the R.A.F., escaped from a prisoner of war camp, was recaptured in Danzig and taken back to camp. Subsequently, information was received from the Protecting Power that he was under arrest on a charge of espionage. The Protecting Power were at once asked to obtain full information as to the date and place of his trial and to arrange for an advocate to defend him in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention.

From a reliable source it has been learnt that on 10th May, 1944, Warrant Officer Coles was removed from the prisoner of war camp in the civilian clothes in which he was captured after his escape, and was refused permission to put on his R.A.F. uniform. He was handed over to the Gestapo. On 1st October, 1944, information was received from the Protecting Power that the German authorities had reported that Warrant Officer Coles had been shot dead at Tilsit on 15th July "when offering resistance." This information was only given to the Protecting Power on 1st September, over 1½ months after the alleged incident.

The Protecting Power were asked to investigate the circumstances of this man's death and to press for an inquiry and report in accordance with the terms of a reciprocal agreement between His Majesty's Government and the German Government in cases of violent deaths and serious injuries of prisoners of war. Attention was also drawn to the excessive delay in notifying the death. In November, 1944, a German note was received through the Protecting Power which stated that this prisoner of war offered resistance at Tilsit on 15th July, 1944, during an evacuation convoy and was shot dead, and added that he was suspected of having collaborated with the Polish resistance movement.

His Majesty's Government are profoundly dissatisfied with the German explanation of Warrant Officer Coles's death, and strong representations are being made through the Protecting Power.