Death of a German Prisoner at Healeyfield

Georg Paul Christian, aged 30, a German prisoner-of-war detained at the Healeyfield Camp, near Castleside, died suddenly while proceeding to his work at 8.30 the other morning. Deceased was employed at the ganister mine, and was walking from the huts to his work, when he suddenly fell down, and succumbed almost immediately. He was seen by Dr. Pocock afterwards, and he expressed his opinion that heart failure was the cause of death. The police reported the facts to Coroner Graham, who did not deem it necessary to hold an inquest.

Northern Echo 10/02/1919 and 12/02/1919 reports:-

The remains of Georg Paul Christian, a German prisoner of war, who died suddenly from heart failure while on his way to the ganister (quartz) quarries from the Healeyfield Detention Camp, were interred as Castleside Graveyard with military honours.

His fellow prisoners attended the funeral, while the guard at the camp fired volleys over the open grave. The Roman Catholic burial ceremony was rendered.

Georg Paul Christian was one of the first batches of prisoners taken in the early stages of the war.