SOLDIER SENTENCED FOR DESERTION

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25537, 3 July 1948, Page 2

SOLDIER SENTENCED FOR DESERTION

CHEMICAL WARFARE INSTRUCTOR

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 2. A general court-martial at the headquarters of the Central Military District to-day sentenced Acting-Sergeant Max Armstrong to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour on a charge of desertion, in that he absented himself from Linton Camp from October 25, 1943, until arrested in Nelson on June 23, 1948. The sentence is subject to confirmation.

It was stated that at the time of desertion the accused was young. His parents by nature were pacifists. During the First World War the accused’s father showed pacifist inclinations by deserting from the armed forces, and he remained a deserter until amnesty was granted. In August, 1941, at the age of 19, the accused joined the armed forces in spite of strong protests by his parents. While serving as a chemical warfare instructor at the Central School of Instruction the accused volunteered to be subjected to an experiment with mustard gas. The effects were much greater than those predicted, as the area of application turned septic and affected his nervous system. He was in hospital for six weeks. His nervous reaction continued, and was aggravated by his parents’ persistent demands that he leave the services.

It was submitted that the accused had suffered no little amount of punishment already by the effects of the mustard gas experiment and that the greatest leniency should be shown.