MR. MAC NEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the Fermanagh Times of 24th January, in which it is stated that Thomas Black, who is at present an inmate of the Enniskillen Workhouse, fought in the 21st Regiment (N. B. Fusiliers) all through the Crimean campaign; that, being frostbitten and paralysed before Sebastopol, he was sent home to Chatham Hospital, and subsequently discharged on a gratuity of 6d. per day, which was to last only for a year and a half; and that he subsequently rejoined the Army, and served all through the Indian Mutiny; and whether he will make inquiries into the accuracy of these statements, and will, if satisfied of their truth, take some steps to make a moderate provision for this veteran, and save him from the humiliation of spending his closing years in a workhouse?
§ MR.E. STANHOPEThomas Black served in the 21st Fusiliers in the Crimea for a period of seven months only. He was discharged as unfit for service, owing to paralysis following on fever, and was allowed a pension of 6d. a day pending recovery. On the 22nd July, 1857, his health being apparently completely restored, he enlisted in the Royal Artillery, and denied that he had ever served in the Army before. After 11 years he was discharged with a bad character. He was not eligible for a pension either on the ground of service or of character, and the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital had repeatedly decided that no pension could be granted him.