Escape and evasion warning against giving information document
Title
Escape and evasion warning against giving information document
I.S.9. (W.E.A)
Description
A notice by Intelligence School 9 (Western European Area) for members of the armed services repatriated after escape or evasion with instructions as to what statements should be made. Signed by Herbert O’Hara on 1 September 1944.
Date
1944-09-01
Temporal Coverage
Coverage
Format
Two page document
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
MOHaraHF655736-161121-01
Transcription
I.S.9. (W.E.A)
WARNING AGAINST GIVING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ESCAPE OR HOW YOU EVADED CAPTURE
This applies to Members of all Services and continues even after discharge therefrom.
1. It is the duty of all persons to safeguard information which might, either directly or indirectly, be useful to the enemy.
2. The Defence Regulations make it an offence, punishable with imprisonment, to publish or to communicate to any unauthorised person any information or anything which purports to be information on any matter which would or might be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy.
3. This document is brought to your personal notice so that you may clearly understand information about your escape or how you evaded capture is information which would be useful to the enemy, and that therefore to communicate any information about your escape or how you evaded capture is an offence under Defence Regulations.
4. You must not disclose the name of those who helped you, the method or methods by which you escaped, the route you followed or how you reached this country, nor must you even give information of such a general nature as the names of the countries through which you travelled. All such information may be of assistance to the enemy and a anger to your friends. [underlined] Be specially on your guard with persons who may be newspaper representatives. [/underlined]
5. Publishing or communicating information included:-
(a) Publication of accounts of your experiences in books, newspaper or periodicals (including Regimental Journals), wireless broadcast or lectures:
And
(b) Giving information to friends and acquaintances either male female, in private letters, in casual conversations or discussions, even if these friends or acquaintances are in H.M.’s or Allied Forces and however “safe” you may consider them to be.
6. F.O(557-44) A.C.I (1896-43) A.M.C.O. A89-44 prohibit lecturing by escapers or evaders to any unit without prior permission of the Admiralty, War Office, Air Ministry.
TO BE COMPLETED IN THE PERSONS OWN HANDWRITING.
I have read this document and understand that if I disclose Information about my escape, evasion of capture I am liable to disciplinary action.
Signed H O Hara Date 1 Sept 44
Full Name (Block Letters) O’HARA HERBERT FREDERICK
Rank and Number F/Sgt 655736
Unit RAF
Witnessed by John Forsyth
2nd Lt CAC US Army
[page break]
WHAT YOU MAY SAY
By signing the attached document you have undertaken to maintain a strict secrecy about your experiences. It is realised, however, that your family and friends are certain to ask you questions. [underlined]Below you will find suggestions for the best way of answering them:- [/underlined]
ROYAL NAVY.
(In similar term to those for the Army and R.A.F., altered to suit particular circustances.)
ARMY (Escapers).
I was captured by the Germans (Italians) and sent to a prison camp in Germany (Italy). I managed to escape and get back to this country, but I cannot tell you how I did that without spoiling the chances of other who are trying to get away. [underlined]I am sure you will understand that I cannot tell you anything till after the war, and I have orders not to say more than I have already told you. [/underlined]
or
ARMY (Evaders).
I managed to evade capture and get back to this country. As many others are trying to do the same, you will understand I cannot tell you anything till after the war. In any case, I have orders not to say more than I have already told you.
R.A.F (Escapers).
I was shot down by flak during a bombing raid. I baled out, and was captured and sent to Germany. I managed to escape from a prison camp and get back to this country. As many other are trying to do the same, you will understand it is not possible for me to tell you anything till the war is over. In any case, I have orders not to say more than I have already told you.
or
R.A.F. (Evaders).
I was shot down by flak and baled out. I managed to evade capture and get back to this country. As many others are trying to do the same, you will understand it is not possible for me to tell you anything till after the war. In any case I have orders not to say more than I have already told you.
Full Name (Block letters) O’HARA HERBERT FREDERICK
Rank and Number Flight Sargent 655736 Signed HOHARA
Unit RAF
Date 1 Sep ‘44
Witnessed by John Forsyth
2nd Lt CAC US Army
WARNING AGAINST GIVING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ESCAPE OR HOW YOU EVADED CAPTURE
This applies to Members of all Services and continues even after discharge therefrom.
1. It is the duty of all persons to safeguard information which might, either directly or indirectly, be useful to the enemy.
2. The Defence Regulations make it an offence, punishable with imprisonment, to publish or to communicate to any unauthorised person any information or anything which purports to be information on any matter which would or might be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy.
3. This document is brought to your personal notice so that you may clearly understand information about your escape or how you evaded capture is information which would be useful to the enemy, and that therefore to communicate any information about your escape or how you evaded capture is an offence under Defence Regulations.
4. You must not disclose the name of those who helped you, the method or methods by which you escaped, the route you followed or how you reached this country, nor must you even give information of such a general nature as the names of the countries through which you travelled. All such information may be of assistance to the enemy and a anger to your friends. [underlined] Be specially on your guard with persons who may be newspaper representatives. [/underlined]
5. Publishing or communicating information included:-
(a) Publication of accounts of your experiences in books, newspaper or periodicals (including Regimental Journals), wireless broadcast or lectures:
And
(b) Giving information to friends and acquaintances either male female, in private letters, in casual conversations or discussions, even if these friends or acquaintances are in H.M.’s or Allied Forces and however “safe” you may consider them to be.
6. F.O(557-44) A.C.I (1896-43) A.M.C.O. A89-44 prohibit lecturing by escapers or evaders to any unit without prior permission of the Admiralty, War Office, Air Ministry.
TO BE COMPLETED IN THE PERSONS OWN HANDWRITING.
I have read this document and understand that if I disclose Information about my escape, evasion of capture I am liable to disciplinary action.
Signed H O Hara Date 1 Sept 44
Full Name (Block Letters) O’HARA HERBERT FREDERICK
Rank and Number F/Sgt 655736
Unit RAF
Witnessed by John Forsyth
2nd Lt CAC US Army
[page break]
WHAT YOU MAY SAY
By signing the attached document you have undertaken to maintain a strict secrecy about your experiences. It is realised, however, that your family and friends are certain to ask you questions. [underlined]Below you will find suggestions for the best way of answering them:- [/underlined]
ROYAL NAVY.
(In similar term to those for the Army and R.A.F., altered to suit particular circustances.)
ARMY (Escapers).
I was captured by the Germans (Italians) and sent to a prison camp in Germany (Italy). I managed to escape and get back to this country, but I cannot tell you how I did that without spoiling the chances of other who are trying to get away. [underlined]I am sure you will understand that I cannot tell you anything till after the war, and I have orders not to say more than I have already told you. [/underlined]
or
ARMY (Evaders).
I managed to evade capture and get back to this country. As many others are trying to do the same, you will understand I cannot tell you anything till after the war. In any case, I have orders not to say more than I have already told you.
R.A.F (Escapers).
I was shot down by flak during a bombing raid. I baled out, and was captured and sent to Germany. I managed to escape from a prison camp and get back to this country. As many other are trying to do the same, you will understand it is not possible for me to tell you anything till the war is over. In any case, I have orders not to say more than I have already told you.
or
R.A.F. (Evaders).
I was shot down by flak and baled out. I managed to evade capture and get back to this country. As many others are trying to do the same, you will understand it is not possible for me to tell you anything till after the war. In any case I have orders not to say more than I have already told you.
Full Name (Block letters) O’HARA HERBERT FREDERICK
Rank and Number Flight Sargent 655736 Signed HOHARA
Unit RAF
Date 1 Sep ‘44
Witnessed by John Forsyth
2nd Lt CAC US Army
Collection
Citation
Intelligence School 9 (Western European Area), “Escape and evasion warning against giving information document,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 25, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/3580.
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