FO371-23517 — Page 92

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384 Proceedings of a Court of Enquiry assembled at Peking on

the 22nd. July, 1939, by order of Major G.T. Goldschmidt, 1st.

Bn. The Durham Light Infantry, Commandant British Embassy Guard, for the purpose of enquiring into the circumstances in which an injury was sustained by No.4451820. Pte. Lant S. 1st. Bn. The

Durham Light Infantry.

PRESIDENT.

Captain D.F. Crosthwaite.

MEMBERS.

Lieutenant K.E. Hermon. C.S.M.E. Bentley.

1st. Witness.

The Court having assembled pursuant to order, proceed to

take evidence.

No.4451820 Pte. Lant S. 1st. Bn. The Durham Light Infantry states:-

At Peking on 10th. June, 1939, at about 9.0.p.m. I was walking South-along Hatamen Street in company with Pte. Foster, 1st. Bn. The Durham Light Infantry.

We were on the West side of the street and had just passed the Rex Cinema when a Japanese man dressed in a white shirt and a pair of dark green trousers ran out from a Hutung on the West side of the street. He was followed by two Japanese who wore similar dress, and as he entered Hatamen Street one of the pursuers fired several shots at him from a revolver.

I heard a bullet pass over my head and ducked; as I ducked I felt a blow in my right leg.

I saw all three Japanese disappear into a Hutung on the East side of the street, and with the assistance of Pte. Foster I returned to barracks in a ricksha where I reported to the Military Hospital.

The Japanese who fired the shots did not aim his revolver at either myself or Pte. Foster, but he was firing wildly and we were both near the line of fire.

(Signed) Pte. S. Lant.

2nd. Witness. No.4452114. Pte. Foster 1st. Bn. The Durham Light Infantry states:

At Peking on 10th. June, 1939, at about 9.0.p.m. I was walking South along Hatamen Street in company with Pte. Lant. We were on the West side of the street and had reached a point about one hundred yards South of the Rex Cinema.

At this moment a Japanese man, dressed in a white shirt and dark green trousers ran out of a Hutung on the West side of the street. He was followed by two Japanese dressed in green uniform and wearing caps, who caught hold of him in the middle of the street and commenced to search him.

We were quite close to the group when one of the Japanese fired one or two shots from a revolver at the Japanese who had been searched and who appeared to be attempting to escape. Several more shots were fired and I ducked to avoid them. the same time I heard Pte. Lant say that he had been shot in the

At

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