Censored Letter from a Kiwi A Letter From France From “N.Z. TRUTH For Censorship A Letter From France Dear “Truth” I am hoping that you will give this Letter your consideration, as you are the only paper that Iam aware of that the men can writeto and have Justice done. I am a Member of the N.Z.E.F. of the ----- Reinforcements. Well, I have seen a good deal of fighting out there: But, like many unfortunate soldier, I made a slip, merely a matter of a few day’s absence over my pass. The result was a court-martial, and a sentence of twelve months imprisonment. These sort of sentences are common occurences here for such trivial offences, but what I wish to appeal to you against is the unjust and cruel and brutal treatment of the men once that they are inside the prisons. Everything is done at the double, the food is bad. It is common thing to see men for practically nothing marched away off to a cell, handcuffed behind the back, and then, you will you believe me , punched and kicked till they are unconscious; and after that cold water is thrown upon them to bring them round. The same inhuman, brutal act is begun all over again. The prisoner is then thrown in the cell in a corner to recover from consciousness. It also is a common thing to see a men beaten with clubs and whips till they are black and blue. I have seen a prisoner taken to a cell in the dead of winter and for half an hour buckets of cold water thrown in upon him; then after he would be taken out in the yard, and with with the temperture below zero, be tied to a post in the snow for two hours or more. Remember, the men in charge of these prisons are not Colonials, but Englishmen. Here is one case which happened in No’2 Prison Rouen: that is the Execution of a Private Braithwaite, of Dunedin, if this man’s death goes unavenged it is a living disgrace to New Zealand. he was charged with mutiny, tried and shot, but the real reason of his being shot is that he used to write to the newspapers in England, complaining of the treatment of the prisoners. The mutiny occured at Avencourt Prison, and the Colonel of the prisons (Colonel Humphries) lined the men up and said “Men, I give you my word.as a British Officer and a English Gentleman, that any man steps out and makes a complaint that nothing will be done to him” Braithwaite three or four more men stepped out.made their complaints, and were next thrown into the cells: they were tried and a few days later were shot. these facts are absolutely true, and will be verefied by any returned soldier Braithwaites name is now posted up in all the prisons as a warning to others. Knowing your paper as I do and being a subscriber, I hope you will put a few lines in your paper Yours etc., A., N.Z. Boy Paris, June 26th { ‘Stamped Not Passed for Publication New Zealand’ }
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 22:13:56 +0000
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