§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)On behalf of the Member for North Aberdeen, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, with reference to the case 421 of the boy Henry Mellon, who was accepted as a recruit for the Royal Highlanders when only fifteen years of age, and who after being kept almost continually marching in South Africa was found asleep from physical exhaustion when on duty, if he can state who was the officer responsible for his acceptance, and if any reprimand has been made for the enlistment of a lad nearly three years under the regulation enlistment age of eighteen; whether the Government are aware that boys of fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen years of age are induced to leave their parents and to enlist by recruiting sergeants who desire to secure the Government bounty irrespective of the real age of the lad; and, in the interests of recruiting and of the parents and the lads concerned, and to prevent danger to military efficiency from immature lads being enlisted as men, whether the Government will introduce a check to such a system of recruiting. May I at the same time ask if arrangements can be made to let this boy visit his parents for a few days before being again sent to South Africa.
*LORD STANLEYI know nothing as to that. In answer to the question on the Paper, I have to say that this soldier gave his age on enlistment as eighteen years three months, and as he was 5 feet 4¼ inches in height and nearly 34 inches across the chest, no one could possibly be blamed for accepting his statement. Further, no application (as far as I can ascertain) for his discharge as under age has ever been made. I am not aware of any such action as alleged against recruiting sergeants in the last paragraph.