Mental Anguish Because Of German Descent

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 220, 16 September 1944, Page 5

Mental Anguish Because Of German Descent

SOLDIER’S PLEA AT COURTMARTIAL (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 15. Mental anguish because of his German descent, formed the basis of the plea put forward by a soldier who was tried by District Court-martial at Papakura Camp on a charge of desertion. He was Private Karle Falkenheim Schick, aged 21, Second N.Z.E.F. Pool, whose period of absence without leave was alleged in the charge to have been from May 27 to September 7 last. He pleaded not guilty. Accused, in evidence, said he suffered mental persecutions by reason of his German descent. At school he was called such names as, “Dirty German/’ and when in the Territorials in 1941, and later in a reinforcement for overseas, he was often under mental anguish. Hutmates with him’ in an N.Z.E.F. camp had expressed their dislike of lighting with anyone of German descent, because they might, it was said, get an unexpected bullet in the back. Schick said he lived in fear he might get a bullet himself. At the outbreak of war, continued accused, the police visited his father’s farm property and seized firearms, explaining that the family were enemy aliens. Both accused’s father and mother were New Zealand-born. On the expiration of his leave on May 25, said accused, he went to Auckland, where he obtained casual employment, wearing civilian clothes. Cross-examined, accused said he regarded himself as a British subject and desired to discharge his duty to his country. He was prepared to go overseas with the next draft, though he preferred to stay in New Zealand. He was not afraid of fighting, but feared what might happen to him personally on account of his German name. The Court subsequently announced that accused had been found not guilty of desertion, but guilty of absence without leave, and that the sentence would be promulgated later.