When they returned from the war many of the officers had to make a Capture Statement regarding the circumstances of their capture by the enemy as well as make statements about the conditions in the prisoner of war camps. This was recorded within days of their return.
This would’ve been necessary to prove:
1. 1. Blame attached to the officer in regard to their capture
2. 2. Any follow up for war crimes committed by the enemy
All officers returning from captivity were interviewed and exonerated as appropriate.
Part of Mark Strelley Fryar’s statement is in the following screenshot.
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| Part of Mark Strelley Fryar's Capture Statement |
He attempted to escape a few times. He gives the circumstances of his initial capture and subsequent camps he was housed in.
We have been able to obtain many of these from the National Archives and it may well be useful as a sort of memoir for your relative whether they were in Holzminden, Schweidnitz or other camp. Details are recorded in a time line by date and location. It often details escape attempts, routes travelled and conditions of the camps.
One other interesting report we have read is that of Lt Jocelyn Hardy. Hardy was a multiple escapee who wrote a part biographical part fictional book called “I Escape” I read his book as I believed he may have escaped one time with Fryar. His statement runs to pages.
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| Part of the Capture Statement Lt JL Hardy |
They had to complete a standard army form explaining the circumstances of their capture. Other ranks did not have to follow the same procedure. The War Office (IIRC) vetted these forms looking for any recklessness, cowardice or neglect of duty.
Contact us if your relative was in Schweidnitz and we can help you source this document if we haven’t already.
Most times, after this statement was completed, they were exonerated by an announcement in the London Gazette which stated they were on “the exonerated officers list”. This meant the exonerated officer who had been a prisoner of war, upon being released, was found not to have contributed to his capture. Being exonerated was most likely a condition of being entitled to his campaign medals. This comment was also often evident on their medals card.
WC Loder Symonds Exoneration meant he could collect his Medals
