MR. YOUNGOn behalf of the honourable Member for East Mayo, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of James Ball, corporal in the 63rd regiment, discharged 19th February, 1856, who was granted a pension of 8d. a day for a wound received in battle, which pension was paid until July, 1865, when it was stopped owing to Ball's residing in the United States; whether he is aware that, in November, 1875, Ball was permitted to draw his pension through Her Majesty's Consul at Chicago, and received two years' arrears in respect of the 10 years due to him; and that the pension was commuted in the year 1892 for a sum of £119 8s. 3d., no allowance being made for the eight years unpaid; and whether he can undertake to have the arrears of eight years now paid to James Ball?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSThe case of James Ball has been repeatedly considered by the War Office. He was duly warned, on going to the United States in 1865, that he would not receive his pension while in that country. He returned in 1875, and, in consideration of his having been wounded in the Crimea, he was replaced on the pension list and granted arrears for two years as a special indulgence. As he was no longer eligible for further service, he was then permitted to reside in the United States. He commuted his future pension in 1892, and has no claim to the forfeited arrears.