FURLOUGH MAN’S APPEAL

Grey River Argus, 21 October 1943, Page 4

FURLOUGH MAN’S APPEAL

Escaped from Germans p A INVERCARGILL, Qct. 2i). The fact that he was an escaped prisoner of‘war was the reason advanced by a soldier on furlough ml not wishing to return to vice, at a sitting ot the Armed Forces Appeal Board in Im eicargill to-day. lhe soldier said he ihouaht that the Germans might treat him badly if he fell into their hands “ S Mr.‘ J. W. Hinchey (Secretary of the Board) said that there was no penalty for a prisoner ot war escapin The soldier: “Yes—but I was on .on to explain that he was captured, with a number of other New Zealanders, in Crete. The Germans had no proper compound, for their prisoners, and not enough men to guard them, so they asked the

New Zealanders to promise not to try to escape. The promise was given, but later the New Zealanders got away when an opportunity offered. Mr. Hinchey said that, seeing that the-soldier had broken his parole, it might be awkward for him if he fell again into the hands of the Germans.