BRITISH WAR CASUALTIES
N.Z. TOTAL: 28,637 COMMONWEALTH LOSS IN FOUR YEARS: 667,159 (8.0. W.) RUGBY, April 4. The total casualties of the' armed forces of the British Commonwealth in the first jour years of the war have been 667,159, including 158.741 killed. The totals for various parts of the Commonwealth were:— ■ United Kingdom .. 387,996 New Zealand .. 25.717 Australia . .. 74,338 Canada .. 19,697 South Africa .. 23,825 India .. 109.800 Colonies ~ 25,786 When this was brought to the notice of the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) he said that details in, respect of the New Zealand forces showed the position as at August 31, 1943. The latest figures available, said Mr Fraser, were as at February 29, 1944. They were as follows: — Killed .. .. 7,116 Missing .. .. 881 Wounded 13.337 Prisoners of war .. 7,303 4, Total .. .. 28,637 “The decrease in the number of prisoners of war Is accounted for by two main factors. First, the men who escaped from custody following the collapse of Italy are no longer classified as prisoners of war, and, second, a considerable number of seriously sick and wounded prisoners of war and protected personnel were repatriated during the latter part of ls<43. “The slight drop in the total of missing personnel would be due to the fact that, from time to time, as further information is received concerning men previously reported missing, it is necessary in some cases to reclassify them as ‘killed,’ ‘prisoners of war,’ or •reported safe.’ Over the period in question, these reclassifications have resulted in a net reduction of the total, which is a normal occurrence after a period of active operations. “It is not yet possible,” concluded Mr Fraser, “to give details of casualties which the 2nd Division has suffered since the end of February in the fighting round Cassino, but from preliminary reports received from General Freyberg, it is clear that they are by no means as heavy, as had been feared, considering the fierce nature of the battle.”
BRITISH WAR CASUALTIES
Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24226, 6 April 1944, Page 5
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