WAR CASUALTIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 200, 24 August 1945, Page 7

WAR CASUALTIES

ARMY AND AIR FORCE

TOTAL. OF OVER 37,000

Parliamentary Reporter. WELLINGTON, this day. Details of the casualties in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and-in the Royal New Zealand Air Force are contained in the annual reports of the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, Lieutenant-General E. Puttick, and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air ViceMarshal L. M. Isitt, which were presented in the House of Representatives yesterday.

The Army casualties since the outbreak of war to May 31 last total 30,013 and the overseas casualties in the Air Force up to March 31 of this vear total 3998. Aircraft accidents in New Zealand up to the same date accounted for 265 deaths. Motor and other non-flying accidents were responsible for 48 deaths and 73 died from natural causes, making a total of 384 deaths in New Zealand since the outbreak of war.

Casualties in the military forces up to May 31, 1945, were as follows:— Killed in action: Middle East, 4033; United Kingdom, 2; Pacific, 95; total 4130. Died of wounds, etc.. 1791; 1; 41; 1833. Deaths due to accident: 268; 10; 43; 321. Died of sickness: 242; S; 32; 282. Prisoners of war: 8181; nil; 7; 8188. Missing: 340; nil; 2; 342. Wounded: 17,683; 3; 231; 17,917. Totals: Middle East. 32,538; United Kingdom, 24; Pacific, 451; grand total, 33,013.

Overseas casualties to New Zealand airmen from the outbreak of war to March 31 last and for the vear ended on that date were as follows:—Killed or presumed dead: Total, 2875; figures for year, 665. Missing, believed killed: 138; 45. Missing! 476; 162. Prisoners of war or interned: 509; 64. In addition, 91 have been reported seriously ill or injured and remain on the list at March 31, 1945. Of the total of 3998 casualties, 3648 have been reported to be R.N.Z.A.F. personnel and 350 New Zealanders serving with the R.A.F. at the outbreak of war.