TOLL OF WAR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 85, 11 April 1945, Page 5

TOLL OF WAR

BRITISH CASUALTIES Churchill Gives Figures For Empire Countries N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, April 10. A statement was issued by the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons on waxcasualties to all ranks of the British Commonwealth and Empire forces from September 3, 1939, to February 28, 1945. Excluding deaths from natural causes the total is 1,126,802. The killed number 306,984, missing 70,872, wounded 422,476, and prisoners of war, including Service internees, 326,470. The casualties to merchant seamen, due to enemy action, for the same dates are:—Deaths, including deaths presumed in missing ships, 30,179; and internees, 3982, making a total of 34,161. Civilian casualties, due to enemy action, in the United Kingdom, are: Killed, including missing, believed killed, 59,793; and injured and dealt with in hospital, 84,794. The casualties to merchant seamen include nationals of the Dominions, India and the colonies serving on British registered ships, but exclude deaths of nationals of the United Kingdom serving on ships registered outside the United Kingdom. Figures of prisoners of war include those who have been repatriated or have escaped. If only those who are still reported prisoners of war are included in the figure, the overall total is 1,099,179. Separate totals of casualties arc:—United Kingdom, 685,638; Canada, 89,220; Australia, 87,256; New Zealand, South Africa, 33,803; India, 163,486; and the colonies, 30,652. New Zealand Totals Mr. Churchill revealed that New Zealand casualties from September 3, 1939, to February 28, 1945, were: Killed 9334, missing 934, wounded 17,987, and prisoners of war 8501, a total of 36,717. Other British Commonwealth casualties ior the same period were: Australian.—Killed 19,430, missing 6955, wounded 35,595, prisoners of war 25,276, a total of 87,256. United Kingdom.—Killed 216,287, missing 30,967, wounded 255,142, and prisoners of war 183,242, a total of 685,638. South Africa.—Killed 6030, missing 512, wounded 12,632, and prisoners of war 14,629. a total of 33,803. Canada. —Killed 31,459, missing 4163, wounded 45,251, and prisoners of war 8367, a Utal of 89,220.

[Such o* the cable news on this pai?e as lr so designated has appeared in The Times, and is sent to this paper by special peimission. It should ■"» understood that the opinions are not thoso of L'tia Timt • v -lless state-* .. * 1-e ioj