Maltreatment of Prisoners of War

The claimant was a Private in the 15th Battalion, Regimental Number 27453. He enlisted in August, 1914, at the age of 20 years. He was prisoner April 24, 1915, at the second battle of Ypres, unwounded. He was repatriated to England on December 24, 1918. He was in receipt of a pension of 15 per cent amounting to $12.00 per month for about a period of 5 months - now discontinued. He was married on April 6, 1921, and had three children at the time of the hearing with another expected. Prior to enlistment, he was with the T. Eaton Company, of Toronto, as an accountant, earning $16.00 per week and since his discharge has held various positions, at salaries ranging from $25.00 per week to $200.00 per week, and at present is with the Cities Service Oil Company, at $90.00 per month.

He alleges that while a prisoner of war he was subjected to maltreatment which has resulted in pecuniary damage to him. He complains of having been forced to work in the salt mines, of being beaten with rifle butts and wire bound hose, kicked and generally abused.

An analysis of the evidence reveals:

This claimant furnishes a comprehensive and vivid picture of camp life at Beienrode salt mines. It is a poignant story of savage cruelty and almost inhuman brutality practiced upon the unfortunate prisoners who spent a part or the whole of their captivity in this camp. The picture might seem overdrawn - so incredible are many of the incidents recounted - but evidence is not lacking to substantiate the story told, not only by other claimants who underwent the same treatment, but also by the official report of Lord Younger upon "Employment in Coal and Salt Mines of the British Prisoners of War in Germany," presented to Parliament in November, 1918. (See Opinion annexed to the present report) That many men were able to withstand the treatment meted out, - many did not - and come out alive is amazing and a wonderful vindication of the physical strength and moral fortitude of those who did survive.

The present claimant was one of those who emerged from this punishment camp with little to show for his period of incarceration. Apart from the loss of part of a finger, accidentally injured, and which was removed without anaesthetic, he presents a healthy and fairly robust appearance. After capture, suffering from dysentery, he was taken to Gottingen camp, where no attention was paid to his malady. He was put to work in a stone quarry and was beaten for being unable to do the work called for. In hospital for a week, he was returned to work but was soon transferred to Celle-lager, thence to Beienrode salt mines (parent camp Hameln). Put to work underground, half clad and undernourished, for as much as 12 hours a day, claimant, with others, developed salt sores or abscesses, which on occasions were treated by being lanced and filled with iodine. The treatment then consisted of being driven back to work in the mines at once. Below ground, claimant received beatings with bayonets or hammers for not doing enough work. It should be borne in mind that the prisoners were let out to civilian contractors with guards supposedly furnished by the German authorities. Evidently these guards were bribed by the contractor to force as much work out of the unfortunate prisoners as was possible. It was a profitable venture for the contractor. It is hardly necessary to detail the beatings and abuse which was heaped upon the claimant. It is almost sufficient to entitle him to an award that he establish that he was in the salt mines. This fact he has clearly proven. He spent 3 years and 8 months at Beienrode. The  medical record indicates that claimant has lost the terminal portion of the middle finger of the right hand, suffers from a marked nervous condition which reacts upon his general health. His percentage of disability is stated at 35 per cent. While claimant does not present the appearance of great nervousness or impaired health, his family physican, Dr. W. O. Simpson, who has known him from boyhood, describes him as being a nervous wreck upon his return from overseas, with twitching hands and spasms of the arms and face. He has no difficulty in attributing this condition to claimant's experiences as a prisoner of war. Questioned as to the possibility that this condition might have resulted from service conditions, Dr. Simpson points out that claimant had only been about four months at the front when captured and was in perfect physical condition upon enlistment, so that the inference is almost irresistible that his experiences as a prisoner are the direct cause of his condition.

With this opinion I agree, and, having regard to the fact that claimant spent over 3 years in the salt mines under the conditions described, I consider that he is entitled to an award for damage to his health due to maltreatment as a prisoner of war. I would, accordingly, recommend a payment to claimant of $800.00, 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, December 1, 1931.

Originally printed on page 52 of the report