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Sunderland Echo, 8 June 1917


German prisoner's death


GERMAN PRISONER’S DEATH

CORONER ON ENGLISH RESPECT FOR DEAD

Coroner Proud yesterday conducted an inquest upon Josef Ingerll [sic] (22), a prisoner of war in a Durham camp. The evidence showed that the man on Monday afternoon left his work for a moment at a quarry and got on to the rails where there were moving tubs. In trying to evade one of the tubs he lost his balance and fell over the quarry side. He struck three or four ledges in a descent of 67 feet, and was picked up unconscious, dying a few hours later.

The three witnesses – German prisoners – all declared that no one was to blame, and that the occurrence was an accident.

Later, the Coroner, addressing the three Germans, said: ‘I am pleased to see proper respect paid to the dead. I am sorry that you are leaving one of your men here. We Englishmen like to express our sympathy with the friends and relatives of the dead – even though they may have been our enemies at one time.’

It was stated that the funeral would be provided with a firing party, and that the German prisoners’ band would be allowed to play a hymn at the graveside.

Date: 8-Jun-1917

Where to find this: The British Newspaper Archive/Find My Past
The Sunderland Echo is also available to view on microfilm at Sunderland Local Studies Centre

Contributed by Durham County Record Office

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