Testimony of Healing September 1, 1951 Issue

During the Second World War,...

Arthur G. Curtis

During the Second World War, after the Conscription Act had been passed in Britain, the Royal Navy found it necessary to establish Naval Detention Quarters to deal with some of the men who were being drafted into the service. I was appointed as captain in charge of one of these establishments during the last two years of the war.

One day we received a message from the depot that a very difficult case was being sent to us and that extra care should be taken that he injure no one; he was under court-martial sentence as a habitual deserter. He was not long with us before he ran foul of all forms of authority, smashed everything in his cell including the window and the light, tore his uniform to pieces and ripped up his boots; he then tried to strike the staff if he saw an opportunity and entirely refused to co-operate. He was antisocial and a rebel against all forms of discipline. He was punished according to the regulations, but to no effect. The chaplain had several talks with him; then the medical officer, who was a psychiatrist, tried to reason with him, and the schoolmaster also tried to help him. I had several interviews alone with him in his cell, but all to no avail. We then asked his foster parents to visit him, but they had to admit after a long interview that they had failed to make an impression.

During the dogwatch and after working hours, I went into his cell and tried again to reason with him, promising him that if he would only give me his word to behave, he would be treated as a man; but he just lay on the floor and would not say a word.

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