TESTIMONY OF SGT BRAMWELL G. PHILLIPS (Co C)

For The WAR CRIMES OFFICE

Judge Advocate General's Department -- War Department

United States of America

******************

For the matter of the killing
of Pvt Cyril K. DeVay

Perpetuation of Testimony of Bramwell
G. Phillips, Sergeant, 12150041

Taken at:

Headquarters Fort Benning GA

Date:

23 July 1945

In the Presence of:

JOHN B. MERIWETHER, Captain CMP, O- 162729, Chief, Intelligence Branch, Security and Intelligence Division

Reporter

Miss Susan Robinson, Confidential Secretary, Security and Intelligence Division.

Questions by:

Captain John B Meriwether

Q. State your name, rank, serial number and permanent home address.

A. Bramwell G. Phillips, Sergeant, 12150041, 126 S Main St, S Norwalk, Conn.

Q. Have you recently been returned to the United States from overseas?

A. Yes Sir. I returned to his country on April 9th, 1945

Q. Will you at prisoner of war?

A. Yes

Q. places where you held and state the approximate dates?

A. I was taken prisoner on June 11th, 1944 in the vicinity of Rauville in Normandy, France. They took us to a little town called Brickerback, where we stayed for about 4 days. From there we were taken to a monastery, 8 miles from St. Lo, which was called Starvation Hill. We were held here for about 10 days. We went from there to Rennes, where we spent about 9 days. On July 5, 1944 we were put in box cars and arrived at Chalone on the 28th. From there we went to Limburg, Germany and spent approximately 12 days. From Limburg we went to prisoner of war camp Stalag 3-C at Krustin, Germany. We arrived there on 12th of September and liberated on January 31st, 1945 by the Russians.

Q. did you witness or have you been told of any atrocities or mistreatment of American citizens at any time?

A. Yes

Q. Are you familiar with the circumstances of an American soldier who was killed by a German when the American prisoners were in route from the prisoner of war camp at Rennes France tool in Limburg Germany?

A. Yes Sir.

Q. State what you know of your own knowledge about this incident.

A. Nothing Sir.

Q. State what was told you and who told you?

A. I was told about this incident by William R. Tumlin (ASN 14139805), First Academic Company, The Parachute School, Fort Benning, who witnessed the incident. I met Pvt Tumlin in September and it had occurred prior to the time that I ran into him. We were at Stalag 12-A at Limburg, Germany together, when he related the incident to me. It seems that while they were being moved in box-cars from the prisoner of war camp at Rennes, France to Limburg, American planes strafed the train, causing the prisoners to leave the cars and scatter into the bushes at the side of the road. This particular prisoner, Pvt Cyril K DeVay, moved out into the bushes a little further than the other prisoners. The German guards brought him back, and a German Major ordered one of the German privates to shoot him. This private refused to do so, and the Major ordered another German to shoot DeVay and German private both. DeVay saw what was happening, so he made an attempt to grab the German’s gun and while struggling with him another German gave him a butt stroke. they shot DeVay immediately afterwards.

State of: Georgia )
} SS
County of: Chattahoochee}

/s/ Bramwell G. Phillips, Sgt. Inf.

I, Bramwell G. Phillips, of lawful age, being duly sworn an oath, state that I have read before going transcription of my interrogation and all answers contained therein are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 25th day of July 1945

C E R T I F I C A T E

I, John B, Meriwether, Captain, CMP, O-162729, SCU 1447, certify that on 23 July 1945, personally appeared before me Bramwell G Phillips, Sergeant, 12150041, and gave the foregoing answers to the several questions set forth; that after his testimony had been transcribed, the said Bramwell G. Phillips read the same and affixed his signature thereto to my presence .

Place: headquarters, Ft. Benning Ga.

/s/ JOHN B. MERIWETHER, Captain CMP,
Chief, Intelligence Branch
Security and Intelligence Division

Date: 25 July 1945