POSED AS OFFICER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20070, 17 October 1939, Page 2

POSED AS OFFICER

Australian uniform DESIRE TO IMPRESS LONDON, Sept. 28. The charge of acting in a manner suggesting that he was a member of His Majesty's forces, on which Hyman Richard Diamond, gged 36, was remanded at Birmingham on bail of £4OO, was preferred under the Defence Regulations. Diamond, who was arrested in error in London late in March in the belief that he was J. Woolcott Forbes, gave his occupation as a company director, and said that he was a partner in a substantial electrical business. The prosecutor said that Diamond was dressed as an Australian officei and that he told lieutenants that he had been in action, and had travelled 132 miles along the Maginot Line. It was stated that Diamond had also said: “I know of 63 British troops who were killed and of at least 200 casualties, and of a number who are missing, and are believed to be prisoners of war. The Germans were broadcasting through powerful loudspeakers to the French, requesting the French to throw down their arms and count the number of British fighting.” Asked whether he had seen French tanks in action, Diamond was said to have replied: “Yes, the French have tanks mounting a ‘seventy-five gun, capable of 70 miles an hour. I can prove who I am. Get into touch with Captain Pollock, at Australia House. He will vouch for me. I am the proprietor of Robinson and Hands, of Birmingham.” The prosecutor said: “One day he s a major, the next a colonel. The truth is that he Is nobody except a masquerader.” The defending counsel said: “There is the simplest explanation, and I will, give it later. He did it to impress somebody, and, stupid as it do not think he has done any harm.