In the Event of Capture

'This document must not fall into enemy hands' warns this official War Office pamphlet issued to British servicemen during the Second World War in 1942. And just to drive the point home, it provides another warning: 'NOT TO BE PUBLISHED: The information given in this document is not to be communicated, either directly or indirectly, to the Press or to any person not holding an official position in His Majesty's Service.'

Well, at least the Press gets an honorific capital like His Majesty.

The first section - 'Information that SHOULD be given in the event of capture by the enemy' is noticeably brief. It's the famous litany of name, rank and serial number.

Section 2, 'What the enemy will try and find out from you' is generally fairly obvious. Points 5, 6 and 7, about aerodromes, anti-aircraft defences, anti-invasion preparations and the Home Guard reflect the preoccupations of 1942. They may have slipped down the priority later in the war.

Section 3 warns about the dastardly methods by which the enemy might try to wheedle information out of captured soldiers, airmen and sailors. Oddly, is mentions the possibility that one's captors might be friendly (the bastards!) but nothing about torture.

The 'DONT'S' in section 4 are pretty interesting, too. For example, point 2 warns against having tradesmen's labels in your kit. The Gestapo knew only too well how to break a man down through his tailor.

I like the 'don't be downhearted' bit too. A touch of humanity there. It goes on to say 'Opportunities for escape will present themselves'. That should be enough to buck a man up.

The final 'Rights of prisoners' is worryingly terse. But at least you know that, if you don't like how you're being treated, you can always make a complaint. How very British.