Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry by order of Lieut. Colonel. R. R. Petrie, R.A.S.C., on 23^rd August 1945 at Fukuoka No. 12 POW Camp to inquire into the circumstances whereby 13023 Lieut. E.B. DAVIES, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force attached 80^th Anti-Tank Regiment R.A., received injuries while doing compulsory work as ordered by the Japanese Prison Commandant.

President:                  Major G. CAMPBELL, R.A.

Members:                  (Capt. R.J. KIMBER, R.A.S.C.

(Capt. K. CAMPBELL R.A.

The Court having been duly convened proceeds to take evidence:

13023 Lieut. E.B. DAVIES, F.M.S.V.F. states:-

On 27^th July, 1945, while working under orders of the Japanese Sergeant in charge of the daily Officer P.O.W. working party, I was ordered to cut grass.  While doing this the sickle slipped on a root and cut my left hand severely.  After about two hours I was taken to the hospital in a neighbouring village where the wound was attended to and stitched by a Japanese doctor.  After return from work I reported to the Dutch doctor and the Japanese Office in Camp.

E.B. Davies Lieutenant.

Officier van gerondheid 1^e classe K.N.I.L.  M.M. HILFMAN.

 (Dutch Medical Officer in Fukuoka No. 12 Camp) states:-

Lieut. Davies reported to me on the evening of 27^th August. 1945, with an injured left hand.  I examined the hand and noticed two cuts, one across the knuckle of the forefinger, inflicted by the sickle, and the second in line with the tendon which had been made by the Japanese surgeon in order to gain access to the tendon.  Both cuts had been stitched so I only dressed the outside of the wounds.  The finger could be lifted at that time so I concluded that the surgeon had connected both parts of the cut tendon.

After four days inflammation started and I had to open the stitches in order to let out the pus.  After another four days it became clear that the finger could not be lifted any more, so in my opinion a second operation is necessary when the inflammation is altogether clear, otherwise the function of stretching the finger will be lost.

G. CAMPBELL, President.

Major R.A.               

                        R.J. KIMBER, Capt.)            Members

K. CAMPBELL Capt. R.A.)                        

Fukuoka No. 12 Camp

23^rd August 1945