This is the Statement Made by Repatriated Prisoner of War. Statement was taken at Ripon, Yorkshire. Original manuscript Filed with Records. (27.12.1918). The Administrative Headquarters of the AIF dates this report as 31st-Dec-1918 (1).

Rank : Lieutenant
Name : NELSON R.C.
Squadron : 4th Squadron
Unit : Australian Flying Corps

Circumstance of Capture :
a ) Date : 14th July 1918
b ) Place : near ESTAIRES

I went out on patrol at 9.15 am and was flying with two other Officers between LA BASSEE and the Forest of NIEPPE at 8000 feet. when I saw an enemy kite balloon at ESTAIRES which was at about 6,000 feet. I left the other two and dived on this balloon. It began to descend quickly and I followed it down to 1200 feet and after firing a last burst, turned for home. I was subjected to very heavy machine gun fire and A.A. fire. I managed to get through the worst of it when an A.A. burst a few feet below me, making a great hole in the fuselage and cutting out the engine. I went into a dive and crashed into a shell hole. The machine was badly damaged but beyond being dazed I was not hurt. The enemy then rushed in from all sides and I was taken prisoner and pulled away immediately from the machine. I was taken to German Flying Headquarters, where I was questioned and then taken back to LILLE where I was subjected to a severe cross examination. I was there put into solitary confinement for four days and then six days close confinement with other Officers. I was then taken to RASTATT and then STRALSUND where I remained from 4th August 1918 to 15.12.18.

At STRALSUND I was placed in a small quarantine camp with nine other Officers and one day exercising round the enclosure four Germans came past with 6 or 7 dogs. One of the dogs walked round me without taking any notice of me but the moment I came from behind a building one of the Germans growled and then all the dogs charged me. The dogs pulled me down on the ground and I was severely bitten on the right leg and left arm, not one of the Germans made any attempt to pull the dogs off till they saw the other Officers rushing to help me and then only one made any attempt to get them off and it was a difficult job as by this time the dogs had worked themselves into a fury. One of the Officers who could speak German questioned the Germans why they did it and they replied that the dogs must have practice. As a result I was in a bed for a few days, and my wounds had to be attended to for several weeks. At first the German Authorities would not let any English Doctor to see me. I made a complaint to the Commondant of the Camp, Von Bushe, asking him to get into communication with a neutral Consul. I received no satisfaction whatever. During the struggle my trousers were torn of.

From Stralsund I went to Copenhagen and embarked on the "Wolochra" and reached Leith on 26.12.18.

1. Prisoner of War Statement courtesy of Gordon Branch.