This is the Statement Made by Repatriated Prisoner of War. Statement was taken at Ripon, Yorkshire. Original manuscript Filed with Records. (14-Dec-1918). The Administrative Headquarters of the AIF dates this report as 27th-Dec-1918 (1).

Reg No : 4620
Rank : Lieutenant
Name : RINTOUL, A.
Squadron : 4th Squadron
Unit : Australian Flying Corps

Circumstance of Capture :
a ) Date : 1st June 1918
b ) Place : LAVENTIE

At 3 pm on June 1, 1918, I was one of a patrol of five machines and was the last man in the formation. We were engaged bombing about seven miles behind the German lines at a height of 12,000 feet in the Armienteres Sector. Our Flight Commander was Captain Malley and the only officer whose name I remember was Lieutenant Moore.

I was attacked by an enemy machine from out of the sun, and engaged him for some minutes, when my adversary hit my engine putting me clean out of action. The enemy continued his attack and I manouvred to evade him. I was about eight miles over the line and owing to a strong westerly wind blowing I was unable to reach my own lines. The last I saw of my formation was whilst carrying on with the fight.

After manouvring I was forced to land my opponent having the continued his attack until I crashed. I was temporarily rendered unconscious and on recovering was immediately taken out of the machine and marched to the nearest headquarters and then to Divisional Headquarters. I was questioned and forced to sign a document that my adversary ( who had in the meantime landed and followed me up ) had actually brought me down. The document was practically for the purpose of blood money for my captor.

I was then sent to a reception camp at Lille. While I was there the German Intelligence Officer informed me in eply to my queries regarding Lieutenant Nowland and Finney ( who crashed in mid-air during a balloon strafe in which I took part previous to my capture ), that no information had been heard of Lieutenant Finney bu that Lieutenant Nowland had been killed and buried in the vicinity of Armentieres and the Forst of Nieppe. He also showed me a photo of Lieutenant Nowland, obtained when Nowland crashed. I do not know the grave number. I also enquired about Lieutenants Barry (AFC) and Wright (AFC) who had crashed in an engagement in which I took part. Lieut Wright went down in flames and Lieut Barry was reported missing. I could not obtain information re graves nor vicinity of same.

I was then in turn taken to the following lagers - Karlsruhe ( 1 month ), where the treatment was considerate. Landshut, Bavaria (6 Weeks), where I met Lieutenant Flight and Lieutenant Feez ( now repatriated ). There the treatment was harsh. Fort Prince Karl Ingolstadt ( 3 weeks ) with French Officers. Fort Ten ( 1 month ) in the same district, where we had fair treatment although on one occasion we were fired upon by German sentries, for cheering three re-captured prisoners. Kamatigall ( East Prussia ) 6 weeks until the Armistice was signed when all restrictions were withdrawn.

Food was very bad, but the Red Cross parcels were good though not too regular, being occasionally held up owing to German methods. Medical treatment was bad, also the sanitary arrangements.

From Kamstigall we went to Danzig on December 9, 1918 and embarked on S.S. Russ for Scotland arriving at Leith on December 13, 1918.

1. Prisoner of War Statement courtesy of Gordon Branch.