§ Sir MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that full particulars of some thirteen cases were placed before his secretary nearly two months ago, all of men who joined up before 1st January, 1916; whether, after repeated applications and no answers, these have all just been returned with the comment that they are not available for discharge on compassionate grounds and so nothing can be done; whether he is aware that under Army Order 55, of 1919, men joining up before 1st January, 1916, have the prior claim to demobilisation without any reference whatever to compassionate grounds; and, if so, what action he is prepared to take in the matter?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is true, as my hon. Friend suggests, that men who joined up for continuous service with the Colours before the 1st of January, 1916, are eligible for demobilisation as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. Men who are temporarily required for the military machinery of demobilisation are retained. In the case of demobilisable men, special priority of release may be granted to individual soldiers on extreme compassionate grounds, but it would seem that the cases referred to were not eligible for special priority of discharge on such grounds. With regard to the other matters referred to, it is impossible to reply in the absence of particulars of the individual cases. If my hon. Friend will return the correspondence to me I will make inquiry.
§ Sir M. BARLOWasked the Secretary of State for War, with regard to the case of Sergeant Wainwright, No. 104064, Royal 2031W Army Medical Corps, Military Hospital, Bere Island, Cork, of 37, Brook Street, Salford, whether he is aware that this man joined up in 1915, and is, therefore, entitled to demobilisation under the Regulations; that his wife is in receipt of 23s. only for herself and one son, and is suffering from severe nervous breakdown; and whether he will have the case inquired into with a view to this man's demobilisation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are already being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. F. C. THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for War why Private James Reid Maitland, No. 186874, of the 213th Army Troops Company, and at present stationed near Charleroi, in Belgium, a pivotal man. is retained. with the Colours; and if he will give orders for his immediate demobilisation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInstructions have already been issued for the demobilisation of Private Maitland.
Captain TERRELLasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Sergeant A. F. Coppock, No. 446081, Royal Army Medical Corps, who is now serving in Egypt, has been in that country now nearly four years without leave, although he is a man of forty-three years of age and has a young family of five; and whether he will consider the desirability of repatriating this middle-aged man with such large family ties at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSergeant Coppock's case has been carefully considered, but the circumstances did not warrant it being specially dealt with on compassionate grounds. As I explained in my speech on the Army Estimates on the 29th May, it is hoped that it will be possible to demobilise all 1914 and 1915 men remaining in Egypt by the end of July if Peace is signed this month. I would also refer to the oral reply I gave yesterday to questions by the hon. Members for Stratford and Kingswinford, to the effect that 26,000 1914 men will have been sent from Egypt in May and June and 30,000 1915 men are coming home in June and July.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that E. J. Baldry, No. 1577, 1st Northern Non-Combatant Corps, is eligible for demobilisation, seeing that he is over thirty- 2032W seven years of age and has been with the Expeditionary Force in France for three years; and whether he can now be released?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Baldry is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release, but if his age is as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend he is eligible for demobilisation and will be released in due course.