HONOUR REGAINED

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1935, Page 5

HONOUR REGAINED

ECHO TO INCIDENT DURING WAR

PARIS, June 4

After ia legal buttle lasting seven years a British war hero has regained his honour and good name. The Court of Appeal quashed a conviction against Colonel Edward Bryce, a tank commander on the .Somme, who, by Ids courage in loading his tanks info action on foot, won the D.S.O. and two bars.

A poignant feature ot the case was that Colonel Bryce was not in court to hear the news. Now 61 years of age, shattered in health, bis speech and hearing affected, he lies helpless and bedridden in a tiny Pa r is flat.

According to the evidence, Colonel Bryce was concerned in organising after the. war a small hanking company in Paris to facilitate dealings in oil shares. Subsequently he was fined £200,000 for tax evasion by importing shares into 'France. Repeated efforts bv Colonel Brvce at last resulted, in M>a r cli 13>> a , in his fine being reduced to £25,000. His appeal was against this reduced fine.

His counsel —a woman—made a moving appeal to the Court. For a year, she declared the colonel had lain helpless and paralysed. He lmd personally |ost. more than C 60.000 in the sham operations. She claimed for him the benefit of the French law which grants an amnesty to all former soldiers who have been mentioned for meritorious conduct in Frcii'di nr Allied A nnv - "decs. She read three extracts from British Armv orders in which his name anpeared. Tim bulges admitted Colonel Bryce of all charges brought against him.