Maltreatment of Prisoners of War

The claimant was a Sergeant in the 15th Battalion - Regimental number 27420. He enlisted in August 1914 at the age of 29 years. He was taken prisoner April 24, 1915, during the Second Battle of. Ypres, unwounded but suffering slightly from gas. He was released to Holland in February, 1918, and reached England November 18, 1918. He is not in receipt of pension. Prior to enlistment, he was employed as a carpenter, at the then prevailing union wage of 45 cents an hour, for an eight hour day, and since his discharge has been following the same trade, at the now union rate of $1.10 per hour.

He alleges that while a prisoner he was subjected to maltreatment which has resulted in pecuniary damage to him. He complains of starvation, abuse and unsanitary conditions. He was struck in the back and on the head with a stick and still carries the scar on his head. In fleeing from this attack he fell down six steps and sprained his wrist, which still functions improperly. He was obliged to work for three weeks in a canal, in water to the knees, as a punishment for refusal to volunteer for work and had to stand at attention daily for two weeks from 6 a.m. till 7 p.m. He now suffers from chest, stomach and nerve disorders.

An analysis of the evidence reveals:

The claimant spent his period of captivity in the following camps: Gottingen, Cassel, Saltau, Langenlager, Bohinte, Muzzenburgmoor and Hameln. The ill-treatment alleged in the foregoing summary of his statement of claim is borne out by his verbal testimony, particularly in regard to the circumstance of the injury to his wrist, which constitutes a disability in his calling of carpenter. He relates the instance of having had to stand to attention and the working in water which occurred at Bohinte.

The medical record indicates that claimant suffers from neurasthenia, chronic gastro-enteritis, general weakness and limitation of movement of the right wrist. His percentage of disability is declared at 50 per cent. Dr. Mortimer Fleming, who testified on behalf claimant, emphasizes the nervous and gastric conditions, which he attributes to insufficient and improper food.

Having regard to the general observations contained in opinion annexed to the present report, I have reached the conclusion that the injury to claimant's wrist, which still continues to disable him, in part may be ascribed to maltreatment whilst a prisoner of war. His other ailments, which are general, do not, I consider come within the purview of the present enquiry. They may or may not entitle claimant to consideration from the Board of Pension Commissioners. On the whole, I would recommend a payment to claimant of $500, with interest thereon, at the rate of 5 per cent per annum, from January 10, 1920, to date of payment.

ERROL M. McDOUGALL,

Commissioner,

OTTAWA, November 30, 1931.

Originally printed on page 67 of the report