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 18th-Dec -1918. (1).

Rank : Lieutenant
Name : WILLMOTT. F.B.
Squadron : 4th Squadron
Unit : Australian Flying Corps

Circumstance of Capture :
a ) Date : 13th January 1918
b ) Place : Near LENS

The flight to which I was attached was escorting a photographing machine behind LENS when my machine was hit and disabled by an "Archie" Shell. The engine was damaged and as I dropped out of the formation I was assailed by two Hun scouts, who pestered me severely, in fact shot hell out of me. I was compelled to get down. Even when I was down, my Hun assailants continued and sustained fire at me, but I was not hit. I had landed quite close to a small village, from which enemy infantry came out and captured me. The usual procedure was to burn the machine, but this I could not do, for I had lost my Verey pistol in the stunting to dodge my assailants. I was taken first to a small place called PHARPIN and from there by train to DOUAI. I was for a fortnight at DOUAI and was then sent to KARLSHRUE, reaching there about the end of January. My next move was to LANDSHUTT in Bavaria, where I spent five weeks, being there inocculated and vaccinated. I was transferred to HOLZMINDEN and spent practically the rest of my captivity at that camp. I crossed to HULL from ROTTERDAM by the SS "Takada" on 14.12.18.

1. Prisoner of War Statement courtesy of Gordon Branch.