WAR CASUALTIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1943, Page 3

WAR CASUALTIES

BRITISH EMPIRE FIGURES TO END OF LAST AUGUST. NEW ZEALAND TOTAL GIVEN AS 19,345. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, June 1. Details of British war casualties in all ranks of the Empire forces for the first three years of war were given by the Deputy Prime Minister in the. House of Commons.

Mr Attlee said the total British Empire casualties —killed, wounded, missing and prisoners of war —numbered 514,993, including killed, 92,089; missing. 226,719; wounded, 88,294; prisoners of war, 107,891. The figures exclude deaths from natural causes. The United Kingdom figures are: — Killed, 73,477; missing, 75,403; wounded, 50.163: prisoners of war, 76,801; total, 275,844. Canada: Killed, 3,142; missing, 2,058; wounded, 1,356; prisoners of war, 3,866; total, 10,422. Australia: Killed, 6,192; missing, 24,193; wounded. 15.700; nrisoners of war, 7,874; total, 53,959. New Zealand: Killed, 3,219; missing, 2,860; wounded, 7,178; prisoners of war, 6,088; total, 19,345. South Africa: Killed, 1,439; missing. 13,350; wounded, 3,229; prisoners of war, 4,597; total. 22,615. India: Killed, 3,286; missing, 86,289; wounded, 9,168; prisoners of war, 3,236; total, 101,979. Colonies: Killed, 1,334; missing, 22,566; wounded, 1,499; prisoners of war, 5,430; total, 30,829.

These figures do not include the Merchant Navy. Regarding civilian ■casualties in the Far East, and those sustained by Indian and colonial units, it was necessary to remember, Mi - Attlee said, that in view of the failure of the Japanese Government to notify the names of prisoners, as prescribed by international law, the number of prisoners taken in this area was not exactly known. Many listed as missing may actually be prisoners. It is noticeable that the figures of killed are higher than those of missing.

The figures of civilian casualties for the same period, September 3, 1939, to August 31, 1942, were: —-Killed, 47,291; injured, 55,643; total, 102,934.

The Australian Prime Minister (Mr Curtin) said today that a supplementary London announcement of British Empire naval, military and Air Force losses in the first three years of war showed that the Australian total up to March 31, 1943, was 67,191, of which 53,226 were battle casualties and the remaining 13,965 accidental deaths or injuries. The figures were: —Killed (including died of wounds and injuries), 10,253; missing, 21,914; wounded or injured, 24,303; prisoners, 10,721. Mr Curtin added that the large number of missing was due mainly to official information about losses at Singapore, but it could be expected that the number - of prisoners would materially increase as the “missing” category was reduced.

The number of officers and other ranks of the Royal Navy, Army and R.A.F. in the Far East, about whose fate information has been received, is 24,300. The number whose fate is unknown is 33,300. Stating this in the House of Commons, the Secretary for War (Sir J: Grigg) added that these figures did not include Dominions or Indiap personnel.