Alfred Vivian Minchin (27 January 1917 – February 1998) was a British merchant seaman who was taken prisoner by a German destroyer after his ship, the SS ''Empire Ranger'', one of a

Murmansk convoy The Arctic convoys of World War II were oceangoing convoys which sailed from the United Kingdom, Iceland, and North America to northern ports in the Soviet Union – primarily Arkhangelsk (Archangel) and Murmansk in Russia. There were 78 convoys ...

, was sunk by German bombers off Norway. He held the rank of

Sturmmann ''Sturmmann'' (, ) was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was first created in the year 1921. The rank of ''Sturmmann'' was used by the '' Sturmabteilung'' (SA) and the ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS). The word originated during World War I when ''Sturm ...

in the Waffen-SS '' British Free Corps'' during the Second World War. He was taken prisoner on 28 March 1942. It was he who suggested the name for the British Free Corps. By 8 March 1945 he 'was being treated for

scabies Scabies (; also sometimes known as the seven-year itch) is a contagious skin infestation by the mite ''Sarcoptes scabiei''. The most common symptoms are severe itchiness and a pimple-like rash. Occasionally, tiny burrows may appear on the skin ...

in the SS hospital at Lichtefelde-West.' The National Archives holds the depositions for his trial at the

Central Criminal Court A Central Criminal Court refers to major legal court responsible for trying crimes within a given jurisdiction. Such courts include: *The name by which the Crown Court is known when it sits in the City of London *Central Criminal Court of England ...

under reference CRIM 1/485. and a Home Office file on him under reference HO 45/25817 He was "convicted at

on 5 February 1946 of conspiring to assist the enemy and sentenced to 7 years' penal servitude" for offences against the Defence Regulations."Seamen Sentenced For Aiding Enemy."
Times, London, England, 21 Feb. 1946: 2. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 20 Mar. 2015. He died in Somerset in February 1998 at the age of 81.''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007''

References

External links

"Seamen Committed For Trial."
Times, London, England, 3 January 1946: 2. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 18 February 2015. {{DEFAULTSORT:Minchin, Alfred 1917 births 1998 deaths English members of the British Free Corps People from Kingston upon Thames British Merchant Navy personnel of World War II British military personnel who were court-martialled Shipwreck survivors Nazis convicted of crimes Prisoners and detainees of the British military

See also

References

External links