Enclosure 3.
- 5
P. S. Al62, Williamson, states:-
107
If my instructions which were simple had been carried out, I would have orked the district from Pokfulum or returned to Aberdeen as soon as the situation permitted. I could have returned the same evening because it turned out the enemy were held east of Aberdeen, and there was no obstacle to this course. As it was, when I got into No. 7 my men had all scattered. Moreover, Mr. Jearle told me to remain at No. 8,
Taken by me. H. C. Calthrop,
Senior Superintendent Police, 26/1/43.
L. S. A145 Goldie states :-
more.
Sometime between 11.30.and 12.30 hours on the 19th December 1941 the Officer in Charge ordered the Police at Aberdeen to leave the Station in two parties and proceed to the Dairy Farm Hill and await him there. I left first with my party and later A5 followed with his. Sergeant Fitzpatrick passed me in a lorry at the foot of the Dairy farm.ilill. He was sitting on some baggage. There were two or three Police in it, not
The lorry took the Victoria Road and did not go up the Dairy Farm ill. I am prepared to swear to this and also that it did not stop. It therefore follows that A55 could not have gone to the Dairy Farm, and presumably he went straight into town. I thought he must have misunder- stood the Officer in Charge's orders, which were quite clear and which I received the same time as A55. I proceeded with my party to the Dairy Farm and waited there. We waited more than half an hour. I saw a lorry going along Victoria Road and thought the Officer in Charge was in it and had not carried out his own instructions. I thought he might have alter- ed them. I decided to carry on, intending to return to No. 8. At the University Main Gate, at the junction of Bonham Road and Pokfulum Road near Hill Road, I met A55 standing there alone. We had a discussion as to where I should report No. 8 my own station or No. 7, Aberdeen's Divisional station. I decided to report to No. 8 and left Sergeant Fitzpatrick, taking all my men with me. There were definitely no men with Sergeant Fitzpatrick when I saw him. I remained at No. 8 and was told by phone by the Inspector on Duty, West, to send my men to No. 7 From the time I met A55 to the time I sent my men off to No. 7 from No. 8 would be about half an hour.
1
I cannot agree that Sergeant Fitzpatrick went to the Dairy Farm or that he took my party to No. 8 or that we did not have a conversation at the University. The only time I went up a side street was during the second evacuation which took place on the 24th. On the latter occasion all the Police came in together on one lorry except those ordered to stay behind. I got off at Oaklands Path and the lorry continued on to No. 8. I wanted to go to my dispersal point in Oaklands Path.
I returned to Aberdeen the next day (20th) with some Aberdeen men on the instructions of Al62, given personally sometime earlier the same day as my return (to Aberdeen). I was asked by Al62 to convey instructions. to A55 to return to Aberdeen and when I phoned the Inspector on Duty, West, I asked him to warn A55 and the Aberdeen men in No. 7. Some seven or eight men came to upper Levels and I took them back to Aberdeen. A55 returned to Aberdeen after I did. I cannot remember if I saw Sergeant Fitzpatrick before leaving for Aberdeen or not. I cannot say if the Inspector on Duty West did tell A55 about these instructions, though the men were sent to me, as I have said.
The interpreter and Detective Lai Kwong were not in my party and did not later make any complaint to me, nor did anyone else, as regards being left stranded.
On my way incon the 19th December I reached the Military Defence line before getting to the airy Farm ill. There were machine gun posts all along the road but the main position appeared to me to be a short distance west of Aberdeen, about half way between the Station and the Dairy Farm.
Taken by me
L. H. C. Calthrop
Senior Superintendent Police, 26/1/43.
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