ACCOUNTING FOR MISSING SERVICEMEN

Chronicle (Levin), 27 September 1946, Page 5

ACCOUNTING FOR MISSING SERVICEMEN

-Press AsSvciation

DIFFICULTIES EMPHASISED

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. Presumptions of deatjx had been made in all but one case where members of the Second N.Z.E.F. had been posted as missing since tlxe campaign in Orete, and similar aetion had been taken where warranted regarding suclx easualt ies in Greeee and Ital.y. This was announeed by the Minister of Defence. He added that recently a New Zealand seareh par-ty had completed its ixxvestigations in Crate and these resulted in the tinding of the bodies ot more than .100 unidentifled soldiers, many of whom were undoubtedly uien xvlio had been listed as missing. "It has been possible in some cases to make identilications, but there are still a number of graves in the Suda Bay War Memorial cemetery which, because of lack of nieans o*f identifxeation, at present necessarily are registered aS those of ' unknowns ', ' ' said the hlinister. "The Army authorities are con tinuing their efforts to lnake further identifications. As it is five years or more since the majority of the casual ties oecuvred, all ' missing ' casualties have been reviewed," Mr. Jones continued. ''Death has been oflicially pre sumed in those cases only where the lapse of time, available evidence and known eircumstances at the time of the soldier's disappearance, warranted this course. ' ' Steps now. taken had resulted in conelusions being reached in 93 cases, but 51 names still remained on tlie "miss ing" register. These were maiiily casualties in Greece and Italv, but in cluded nine personnel who were prison-crs-of-war 011 the Coutinent when hostilities ceased and who were still unaccounted for. A11 Allied graves ' registratiou and enquiry serviee was operating in Greece and Italy and the Allied seareh organisation was contiuuing its investigations in Eui'ope. Information might yet be obtained regarding soldiers still " missing" in those countries. When investigations were completed, the cases of any personnel not then accounted for would be reviewed with the object of niaking fin.al determinations. The next-of kiix would be adviscd of such reelassifications. "In some cases still listed as inissiiig, there is absolutelv no evidence as to the eircumstances of the soldier's disappearance and shoxild enquiry xxnits be unable to obtain information, it might be necessary to await the expiration of tlie statutoxy period of seven years from the date the personnel was origiually posted missing, before niaking determinations," said the Minister.