§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the minimum age fixed by the Army Regulations for the enlistment of boys; if a boy gets enlisted under age, can he or his parents claim discharge on proof being given that he was under age at the time of enlistment; whether he is aware that a boy named P. Bradley, No. 346, P.C., joined the 8th Hussars in Dublin last April, being then only 17 years and six months; whether his father, with his consent, has claimed his discharge on the ground that he is under age, and supplied certificate of birth in proof; whether his discharge has been refused; and, if so, on what grounds; and will he see that Bradley is at once discharged?
§ MR. BRODRICKThere is no minimum age fixed by law, but under the Army Regulations recruits are not enlisted before the age of 18 years unless they possess the physical equivalents of that age. If through false pretences a boy under that age enlists, his parents cannot claim his discharge, although occasionally it is allowed as an act of grace. P. Bradley did enlist last April, and his father has since supplied a certificate showing that he was then only 17½ years old. He gave his age on enlisting as over 18 years, and as the medical officer who examined him found him to be physically equivalent to 18½ years of age his discharge has been refused. Under the circumstances the Secretary of State sees no reason for overruling the recommendation of the General Officer commanding the district by ordering Bradley's discharge.