§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of David Thomas and Henry Keegan, troopers, who took part in the Balaclava Charge and were both wounded, while the Captain escaped unhurt; whether he has had any representations made to him to the effect that David Thomas died last year in Carmarthen Workhouse, and Henry Keegan a fortnight ago in abject poverty at Birmingham, his limited pension of 6d. a day having expired 29 years ago; and whether, as the Captain has since, in due course, but without seeing any further war service, risen to be Major General, Lieutenant General, and General unemployed, and now receives £1,000 a year, he will cause provision to be made for the families of these men, and take steps to 759 provide against similar sufferings in the case of other old soldiers?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe men referred to were both given whatever was possible under the Royal Warrant. Thomas had long service and had a pension of 9d. a day, which would have been higher but for his very bad record, he having been 46 times in the defaulters book, and seven times tried by Court Martial. Keegan had not served long enough to receive a permanent pension; neither appears from the records to have been wounded, but this is the class of cases which under the concession recently announced it is hoped we may be able to relieve. The War Department has no funds or powers under any Warrant to provide for families of soldiers. Neither officers nor soldiers receive pensions for war service except in connection with wounds.