HC Deb 29 June 1917 vol 95 cc681-3
21. Mr. WING

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state in simple form under what conditions discharged soldiers are exempt from being called up under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act and publish the same

Mr. FORSTER

Under the Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Act, 1917, a man is exempt from being called up under the Act

  1. (a) if, being an officer, he has left, or being a warrant officer, non-commissioned officer, or private, he has been 682 discharged from the Army in consequence of disablement if the disablement is certified under the authority of the Army Council to be the result of wounds (including injury from poisonous gas) received in battle or in any engagement with the enemy, or otherwise from the enemy, or in consequence of neurasthenia or allied functional nerve disease if so certified by a special medical board to be the result of naval or military service in the present War;
  2. (b) if he is an ex-officer or discharged warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or private who has left or been discharged from the Army in consequence of disablement or ill-health, and is for the time being engaged in agriculture upon work which is certified by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries (or, as respects Scotland, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland) to be work of national importance, and he was engaged on such work on the 31st March, 1917.
In addition to the statutory exemptions above-mentioned, instructions have recently been issued by the War Office that no discharged man who has served overseas in the armed forces of the Crown is to be compulsorily posted for service under the 1917 Act, notwithstanding that under the provisions of the Act he may be legally liable to be posted for such service.

Mr. WING

Does the hon. Gentleman by "special board" mean the verdict of the board resulting in an ordinary discharge

Mr. FORSTER

The point of the hon. Member is covered by my answer, which is very long. Perhaps my hon. Friend, when hi3 reads it, will see that his point is met.

Mr. HOGGE

As the discharge paper does not usually contain the specific reason for the man's discharge, and does not, for instance, mention that he has been wounded, is it sufficient for him to say on the back of the form that he has been wounded or must he prove that he has been wounded?

Mr. FORSTER

No; I think my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary has answered that question repeatedly. If the man has been wounded, he fills up the form on the back to that effect.

Mr. PRINGLE

Will instructions to that effect be issued to all the recruiting officers?

Mr. FORSTER

I think the instructions which have been issued to the recruiting officers cover the point.

Mr. SHERWELL

Is it not a fact that since the undertaking given by the Undersecretary recruiting officers have, nevertheless, called up men who have been discharged?

Mr. HOGGE

And have put them into the Army?

Mr. PRINGLE

Will a man who has actually been put into the Army under such a misapprehension be entitled to his discharge?

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