§ 35. Mr. WINGasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement as to the present and future position of members of the Army who were soldiers previous to the outbreak of war, many of whom have been at the front without a break since August, 1914, and whose term of service expires month by month; will they have free choice of rejoining the Service or will they be conscripted if under forty-one years of age; will he say whether on rejoining a month's furlough will be guaranteed them; are they entitled to any bounty; and, if over forty-one years of age, will they be retained in the Service against their wish?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo man is discharged on termination of engagement if he is under forty-one years of age. The contingency in the first part of the question does not, therefore, arise. Subject to military necessities, a month's furlough is granted to a man who is retained, or elects to remain, in the service on termination of his engagement. The conditions of issue of bounty are laid down in Army Order 209/1916, of which I will send my hon. Friend a copy. When the man is over forty-one years of age on termination of his engagement, he is not retained in the service against his wish, provided that he has served twelve years at the time of his discharge.