HC Deb 08 September 1893 vol 17 cc658-9
VISCOUNT WOLMER (Edinburgh, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of David Gordon, late No. 6,024, who has served in the Crimea, and was discharged from the Grenadier Guards on January 26, 1861, with a good character, and with the record of 10 years' service in the Army certified on his parchment discharge certificate; and, if so, whether he will state the reason why Gordon has been informed in an Official Letter of May 20, 1893, that he is not eligible as an applicant for a special Crimean pension because he has only nine years and 364 days' service in the Army reckoning for pension?

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. WOODALL,) Hanley

Private Gordon served from December 30, 1850, to January 26, 1861—i.e., 10 years and 28 days; but he forfeited 29 days' service, and consequently could only reckon nine years 364 days towards pension. As 10 years is the minimum qualifying service for the special campaign pension, he is not entitled thereto. It must not be forgotten that the number of these special campaign pensions is limited, and, though 10 years is the minimum service qualifying, there are very many of the unsuccessful applicants who have served a much longer time, and whose cases naturally have precedence.

VISCOUNT WOLMER

I wish to ask whether the hon. Member observes that the application made by this man is to be enrolled among the applicants; and whether, although this man's discharge certified that he had served 10 years, the Treasury refuses to hold him eligible because his term of service was one day short of the 10 years?

MR. WOODALL

I admit that it is a very hard case; and if the 10 years, instead of qualifying as an applicant, qualified for pension, we should, of course, press the claim upon the Treasury; but, as a matter of fact, the man stands a long way behind other claimants.

VISCOUNT WOLMER

May the man not be allowed to be enrolled among the applicants, and then his application would take its chance among the rest?

MR. WOODALL

I will promise to go into the matter if I see the smallest chance of his obtaining a pension in the event of his title as an applicant being admitted.