§ 52. Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many names of officers, out of the 15,000 British casualties mentioned in the Press Bureau's official communication of last Sunday, have been made known to relatives or next of kin, and how many of such names have been given out to the Press for publication?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe names of killed, wounded, missing, and sick officers have, after verification, in all cases been notified to the next of kin where known, and except in the case of sick officers have been given to the Press. The publication is purposely delayed for a short interval in order to ensure that the notification first reaches the next of kin. The names of officers reported sick are not published.
§ Mr. DOUGLAS HALLWill the right hon. Gentleman give the particulars I ask for?
§ Mr. TENNANTIt is impossible to give those particulars at present.
§ Mr. BOWERMANWill the right hon. Gentleman state what steps are being taken to notify the relatives of the soldiers?
§ Mr. TENNANTAll steps are being taken.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDThe right hon. Gentleman will remember that he mentioned clearly "officers."
§ 66. Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how it is that wounded officers invalided home from the War frequently arrive at their homes in this country several days before their names appear in the printed casualty lists?
§ Mr. TENNANTAfter reading the despatch from Sir John French, published in last night's "London Gazette," the hon. 645 Member will realise that there have been difficulties in rendering complete casualty lists. I think the military authorities at the base have the right in deciding that it was not necessary to keep back wounded officers for whose transport opportunities offered until it had been ascertained whether their names had been included in a casualty list. The fact that wounded officers have returned has been reported as soon as possible to their next of kin.