HC Deb 29 June 1900 vol 85 cc72-3
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether all the men on parade at Aldershot on the Field Day on 11th June, when twenty eight men, of whom four died, were severely affected, and twenty-nine men were slightly affected, by the heat of the sun, had breakfasted before they came on parade, and were the casualties on this occasion confined to non-commissioned officers and men; can he state if the breakfast consisted of tea and of dry bread, or were there any, and, if so; what additions; and how many ounces of bread were allowed for each man for breakfast on that day; and will he say, out of the 18,002 men on parade at Aldershot on 11th June, how many were left without food from their departure from barracks till their return to barracks or to hospital on that day; and whether the attention of the War Office authorities has been directed to the strictures made by the coroner at the inquest on the body of one of the soldiers who lost his life in those operations with reference to sending out men on a scanty breakfast, which he termed almost brutal, and the rider to the verdict, that the men should have had a substantial breakfast; and have the War Office authorities any, and, if so, what explanation to make for a course of conduct calculated to endanger the health and lives of the troops.

*MR. WYNDHAM

The hon. Member was absent when these matters were fully discussed.† All the men had breakfast before starting. The casualties were not confined to the men, as two officers fell out. The breakfast would include additions, which vary in different regiments. The daily free issue of bread is one pound, and this is seldom consumed, but more can be obtained if required. In the case of two battalions the men were without food from the time they left barracks until they returned. The food was despatched from barracks, but failed to reach the troops.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Is the hon. Gentleman aware it was sworn at the inquest that one man had nothing but dry bread?

*MR. WYNDHAM

There were two battalions that had no food. I can assure the hon. Member the whole matter is being fully gone into.