HC Deb 12 April 1886 vol 304 c1305
MR. W. O'BRIEN (Tyrone, S.)

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the case of John Gorman, of Mallow, a pensioner from the 19th Foot, who was discharged invalided after more than nineteen years' service, in consequence of the bite of a scorpion in Demarara; whether, from 1848 to 1870, he served in the local Reserve, and, according to the certificate of Dr. Parsons Berry, was attacked while on duty in that corps by cold and inflammation of the eyes, which terminated in total blindness; whether Gorman is now an old man of seventy-six years, blind and lame, dependent for the necessaries of life upon the ten pence a day he receives in respect of his services in the 19th Foot; and, whether, having regard to his age, poverty, and helplessness, and to his forty-four years' service in that regiment and in the Reserve, he will receive the small additional allowance made to persons who get invalided while embodied in the Reserve?

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY (Mr. HERBERT GLADSTONE)(who replied) (Leeds, W.)

said: If the pensioner Gorman can produce satisfactory evidence that he was disabled by reason of his service with the Enrolled Pensioners he should submit it to the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, who have power to deal with such cases.