SOLDIERS MAKE BREAK

Grey River Argus, 2 July 1945, Page 5

SOLDIERS MAKE BREAK

From Detention Camp

22 GET WELL AWAY IN QUEENSLAND.

(Rec. 10.20) BRISBANE, July 1. Twenty-two soldiers, who were under sentence, escaped from the Grovely detention barracks last night. They went while shots were tired in an atteinpt to halt them. Provosts are searching the countryside for them. They are stopping and checking the occupants of all cars. But thusfar none of the escapees have been reported as captured. The breakout which took place at dusk, appeared to have been carefully planned.

A n.c.o. from a neighbouring camp said that, hearing a commotion, he raced out of his hut, and he saw men break out of the Grovely compuond. From the way the men went through barbed wire, it seemed' obvious that it had been cut and rigged, waiting for them to make a break.

Grovely is the camp where the prisoners mutinied in 1943, resulting in gaol sentences for three alleged ringleaders, and the holding of an inquiry into allegation of ill-treatment of prisoners. Privates J. Wilson and J. derrick were sentenced to live years’ imprisonment, and Sapper A. Chalmers to four years. The three , men have completed 21 months of their sentences. Mr Justice R'eed was appointed as Commissioner to inquire into their case, and into allegations of brutal treatment at the camp. He decided that the men were not the ringleaders of the mutiny, and should not have been sentenced as such. He recommneded sentences of discharge without ignominy and the Army Minister, Mr Forde, ordered the sentences to be reduced to two years.