NAZI PARACHUTISTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21208, 3 September 1940, Page 9

NAZI PARACHUTISTS

STOKY OF ARMY DESERTER INNOCENT FARMER ARRESTED (Times Airmail Service) ' LONDON, July 7 Many people heard a rumour recently that Nazi parachutists had come down in Oxfordshire, says the Star. Anyone who believed the story should read this: A farmer and his family were, it was revealed today, taken from their home under armed guard and the house was ransacked by soldiers. All because of a fantastic story invented by an army deserter. ,The farmer, Mr F. J. Floray, of Hardwick, near Witney, Oxfordshire, today went to the War Office to be officially told that he was exonerated from all blame in the matter. The story, as related to the Oxfordshire branch of the National Farmers’ Union, was: At the beginning of last week, a man who had been a pupil on Mr Floray’s farm was arrested. Later, it was found that this man was a deserter from a Welsh regiment, 12 Hours Without Food His tale was that he was a parachutist. In his possession when arrested was a marked map and some papers, one of which stated that Mr Floray had arms and ammunition on the farm, and that parachutists who were in trouble were to go there. Mr Floray knew nothing of the incident until troops arrived at his farm. He and his family were taken to Oxford, where they were held under guard for twelve hours without food. The house was ransacked, every paper was read, and locks were broken. “ When at last we got home again we found that we had been eaten out of home,” said Mr Floray. The county secretary of the N.F.U. added that the troops “ consumed everything with which Mr Floray entertains his friends.” Sir James Edmondson, M.P. for Banbury, brought the matter up, and a letter was sent by the military authorities saying that Mr Floray and his family were completely exonerated, and the question of damage by the troops was being investigated.