72. Sir H. ROBERTSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private H. Edwards, 35811, 14th Battalion South Wales Borderers, who offered to enlist at Llanrwst on the 9th December, 1915, and held a certificate of rejection; whether he is aware that on the 17th March the man received a notice calling upon him to report himself at Wrexham, and that, in spite of his exemption certificate, he obeyed the summons, and was transferred to the South Wales Borderers at Kinmel Camp; whether he was placed 894 in hospital at the camp on the 3rd April, and died on the 5th April, having been on parade on one occasion only; whether an inquiry has been made into these facts; whether he is in a position to state the result, particularly with reference to the circumstances under which Private Edwards was passed as fit for military service by the medical officer at Wrexham; and whether he can give an assurance that steps have been taken with reference to medical examination which will prevent the repetition of such occurrences?
§ Mr. TENNANTWhen Private Edwards was called up under the Military Service Act he produced no evidence of ever having been rejected on medical grounds. He went before the medical board and was pronounced fit for general service. He was admitted to Kinmel Park Camp Hospital on 1st April, was transferred to Bangor Military Hospital, where he died of broncho-pneumonia on the 5th April. I have had the facts in this case specially reviewed from the medical point of view, and as a result I am informed that there is no evidence of Private Edwards's unfitness at the time of examination.