Maltreatment of Prisoners of War

The claimant was a Private in the 19th Battalion - Regimental Number 766144. He enlisted November 22, 1915, at the age of 20 years. He was taken prisoner June 21, 1918, badly wounded, - gunshot wounds in the chest, which touched the edge of the lung. He was released on November 22, 1918, and found his way back to the British lines. He was at first in receipt of a total disability pension, receiving $60.00 per month, and is now receiving a pension of $11.50 per month. He had been married on September 6, 1926, and has one child. Prior to enlistment he worked in the shipping room of the Dominion Paper Box Co. at a salary of $12.00 per week, and since his discharge has been compelled to do outside work, driving a bread wagon, for which he earns an average of $25.00 per week.

He alleges that whilst a prisoner of war he was subjected to maltreatment, which has resulted in pecuniary damage to him. He complains of lack of medical attention, arduous work, under shell fire, close to the lines, starvation, kicks and beatings.

An analysis of the evidence reveals:

The claimant was a prisoner for about five months. He was kept behind the lines and received some medical treatment for his chest wounds. He complains that his wounds were dressed only every third or fourth day and that paper bandages were used. He was three months in hospital and was then made to work on railroad and canal work, and was under shell fire from advancing British troops. His main complaints on the head of maltreatment are that there was a shortage of food and that he was compelled to sleep in the open in cold weather. He did not receive any particularly brutal treatment, except the usual rough handling while at work. As a result he contends that a chest or lung condition has developed which impairs his health. He moreover ascribes a gastric and nervous condition to his experiences whilst a prisoner. The latter is said to have resulted from being compelled to work under shell fire.

The medical record is very meagre. A certificate of Dr. G. W. Carleton, dated November 2, 1930, is produced indicating an impaired chest condition and some stomach trouble. Claimant is unable to do inside work, and is compelled to work out of doors.

Claimant has not made out a very strong case, and were it not that we have other evidence as to the inhumanity and cruelty of the treatment given prisoners who were compelled to work immediately behind the lines, I would be disposed to disallow the claim. We know, however, that the conditions of work and starvation, with frequent beatings from exasperated guards, were such that prisoners were in pitiable condition when they arrived at prison camps in Germany, following their experiences working behind the lines. In these circumstances, weak as the case is, I consider that claimant is entitled to an award for impaired health due to maltreatment. I would, accordingly, recommend a payment W him of $500.00, with interest thereon, at the rate of 5% per annum, from January 10, 1920, to date of payment.

ERROL M. McDOUGALL,

Commissioner,

OTTAWA, December 7, 1931.

Originally printed on page 54 of the report