IN HANDCUFFS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22491, 28 January 1943, Page 4

IN HANDCUFFS

Prisoners Of War New Zealand Soldiers Among British prisoners of war who were manacled by the Germans is a Wellington soldier, who tells his parents about it in a letter just received by them, says the “Dominion.” The letter is interesting for what it doesn’t say, and it is fairly obvious that the German censor has insisted on the whole business being played down.

It is from Warrant Officer Rodger Blanshard, who was awarded the M.B.E. two years ago, and whose parents, Captain and Mrs G. H. Blanshard, live at 83 Hopper Street. The following is the extract telling about the handcuffs: “. . . . At the moment we are all in handcuffs as volunteers. This is a reprisal for the treatment given to German prisoners of war taken in commando raids. Every care is being taken of our health —it is only annoying to be restricted. Still, we volunteered, so we mustn’t grumble.” The accent on the word “volunteer” looks like pretty thin propaganda. Letters relating to the manacling of New Zealand officer prisoners of war in a German prison camp have been received by Hamilton residents.

One prisoner, Captain S. T. Nolan, of Hamilton, part of whose letter was blacked out, wrote to Mrs Nolan from Oflag VIIB as follows: “There has been some mild excitement in the camp in the last few days. Quite a large number of us have been handcuffed or bound up, but so far it has been treated with humour. We have nothing to complain about the way the Germans are carrying out this order.”

In charge of an artillery unit in Crete, Captain Nolan stayed behind to ensure that all his men got away safely, but an expected boat did not arrive before the Germans were in possession. Captain Nolan was mentioned in dispatches for gallantry in the field.

In a letter dated October 10 from Oflag VIIB, Lieutenant H. J. Radford wrote to his mother:—

“I have not yet been a ‘victim’ of the present reprisals, of which you have no doubt read, but at the present rate of increase in numbers, I should join the 300 in a few days. The Kommandant has shown up rather well over the matter, which we all feel is pretty absurd. The ‘manacles and fetters’ are on for 12 hours a day.”