2NZEF Soldier Joined Hitler's SS!

[Dave Homewood]

COURT-MARTIAL

CHARGE OF TREACHERY

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIER

ALLEGED AID TO ENEMY

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Recd. 1.50 a.m.) LONDON, Oct 1

Lance-Corporal R. N. Courlander pleaded not guilty to charges of treachery and joining the enemy forces before a New Zealand court-martial at Westgate-on-Sea. Courlander was charged with voluntarily aiding the enemy in Europe between October 1942, and September, 1944, by writing and delivering broadcasts, by joining and working for an organisation controlled by the enemy known as the British Free Corps, and also by joining the armed forces of the enemy. This is the first hearing of a charge concerned with joining the enemy forces.

Prosecutions Case
Courlander was born in London and joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force while living on an island off the coast of New Zealand at the outbreak of the war. He is defended by Captain C. P. Hutchison, of Auckland. Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. Hillard is prosecuting officer. Colonel L. F. Rudd is President of the Court. The hearing is expected to last five days, and the prosecution is calling 16 witnesses, including four Australian soldiers.

Colonel Hillard, in opening the case, said the prosecution alleged that Courlander joined the Germans in planning the foundation and organisation of the British Free Corps, from which Courlander endeavoured to oust John Amery. Courlander joined the S.S. as a propagandist and war reporter.

Courlander served with the New Zealand Division in the Western Desert and in Greece, where he was separated from his unit. When he reached Athens he was put in a reinforcement unit and became a prisoner in April, 1941, at Kalamata.

Alleged Statement
Courlander, continued Colonel Hillard, had made a statement in which he outlined his ideas for the British Free Corps which he decided to join and work for. He admitted in the statement that he broadcast talks on colonial affairs and also his reminiscences as a prisoner.

Colonel Hillard said that Courlander left the Free Corps and joined the S.S. in August, 1944. He went from Berlin to the Western Front wearing S.S. uniform; and in Brussels was taken over by the British on September 4, 1944. Courlander claimed that he intended to escape and also that he had joined the Free Corps to control it or sabotage it if he was unable to use it against the enemy. The Court went into camera to consider details which it was thought unwise to make public.

NEW ZEALAND HERALD,  2 OCTOBER 1945

[Dave Homewood]

This was L/Cpl Roy Nichol Courlander, who's wife Mrs B.J. Courlander lived at 21 Valley Road, Mount Eden, Auckland, in 1944.

There is more detail in this one:

MEMBER OF N.Z.E.F. TO FACE TRIAL

BRITISH FREE CORPS

Englishman Who Formerly Lived In Auckland

N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 4.

An Englishman who lived for two years in Auckland before joining the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is mentioned among 40 Allied prisoners of war concerned in the "British Free Corps." The list was compiled by a Canadian soldier accused at a court-martial of aiding the enemy. The man is Lance-Corporal R. N. Courlander.

In a statement, said to have been made by the Canadian, Private E. B. Martin, he commented on Lance-Corporal Courlander. "A racketeer," he said. "He tried to make a success of the British Free Corps for his own personal benefit. He openly stated that he expected a commission from the Germans."

Private L. T. Freeman, of Birmingham, giving evidence, said that he, Martin and Courlander and three others went to an S.S. propaganda school in Hildersheim, where they were issued with S.S. uniforms, a cap bearing the death's head symbol, a Union Jack round the right arm and a British Free Corps flash for the left arm. They were also issued with police pistols. Captain Roepke, who was the German in command of the British Free Corps, told them the British Free Corps would grow into a big organisation to fight Bolshevism and bring Germany and Britain together.

"Heil Hitler" Salute
Freeman said the day would begin with an eight o'clock parade, which Martin took and dismissed with a "Heil Hitler." There was some objection to the "Heil Hitler" saluting, and at a conference they had Courlander said: "Well, we have to raise our right arm, but what we say under our breath is nobody's business."

Martin, in a statement, said he realised he might face a charge of treason.

"The reasons I did what I have done was to gain the confidence of the Germans so I could obtain information which might later on be of use to the British authorities," he stated. He pleaded not guilty to acting as an informer to the enemy and voluntarily acting as a member of the British Free Corps.

Courlander is detained at an N.Z.E.F. repatriation centre in Kent, where he is awaiting court-martial on September 18.

[Dave Homewood]

N.Z.E.F. Soldier Who Aided Foe, Imprisoned

(Rec. 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 2

Royal Nicholas Courlander, London-born member of the New Zealand forces, was found guilty by court-martial of helping the Germans, was sentenced to 15 years’ penal servitude.

Courlander sailed in the Mooltan on November 2. He will serve his sentence in New Zealand. He joined the “British Free Corps” and engaged in propaganda for the Nazis.

[baronbeeza]

[chinapilot]

Photo and account of his later life;

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1259632/Hitlers-British-SS-Chilling-pictures-traitors-joined-Fuhrers-evil-unit--Union-Flag-sleeve.html

It appears (Parlimentary Debates 24/10/1951 P437) that he was released in 1951 and the MP for Mount Albert said that an independent counsel had stated that if the case had gone to a Civil Court the conviction would have been quashed - which seems amazing but it was just an opinion.