10. Major STANLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Boy T. Hodson, now serving in the 1st Battalion Worcester Regiment, was placed in the Army on the 29th October, 1912, by the school authorities of the industrial home to which he had been sent until he was sixteen years of age; that this was done without the consent of his mother; and that he was then only fifteen years of age; and whether, seeing that his mother has been deserted by her husband and has two small children dependent on her, he will order the boy's discharge so that he may assist her?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)I am obliged to the hon. and gallant Gentleman for bringing this case to my notice, and inquiry shall be made. It is, however, found to be the case that a lad can often be of more assistance to his parents when serving in the Army and remitting money to them, than when engaged in some ill-paid civil employment.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHIs it the practice to send these boys from industrial homes into the Army?
§ Colonel SEELYBy the regulations it is not necessary to get the consent of the parents for boys to enlist in the Army from industrial schools, and it is often found from experience that boys who come to the 1966 Army from them may often have remarkably good careers, but I will make inquiry into this particular case in order to see that this otherwise admirable plan has not been abused in any way.