4.9
p 3
He fell back into the wire.
(sd.)
Mohamed Guhal, B.155,
Eric Himsworth,
4.1.40.
(4) WILLIAM ROTHWELL
sworn.
L.S. A.165. I was on 29.11.39, an assistant police officer
at Ma Tau Chung. At 11.55 a.m., I was in my quarters, when I
heard the alarm sounded. Someone pointed out No.6 post, so I
ran to the post. I heard the sentry on No.5 post fire a round
and I heard the pellets strike the roof of the wood house.
As I looked towards No.6 post and saw a man climbing up the wire,
I could not do anything there, so I ran to the gate of the
external quarters and told him to come down. So I ran back and
got the key to the gate. He did not come down, but attempted
to scale the wire. I was in uniform wearing a revolver. When I
got outside, I could see the head and shoulders of the man above
the fence and his legs through the wire mesh. I was about 35
yards. With a good heave, the man would have been able to throw
himself clear of the wire. He would have been able to get over
the wire. I called upon him to stop but he turned his back to
I fired twice at his legs, it ricochetted off the fence.
me.
I fired a second shot, which hit the wire. I called on him to
get down and I fired a third shot at his legs as he got up and
he fell down into the apron. I fired a first and second shot
together and the 3rd shot about 5 seconds later, after I had
called him to come down.
I think if I had not fired, the man would have got away.
The internees are personally told of the consequences if they
attempt to escape. This spot where the man went over is only
under observation from No.5 post.
(Sa.) W. Rothwell, L.S. A.165,
#1
Eric Himworth,
4.1.40.