§ 23. Sir GODFREY BARINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Myles Foster, who was referred by the Hampshire Appeal Tribunal, on the 23rd November, 1916, for examination by the Central Medical Board, but received a notice calling him to the Colours before such examination had taken place, namely, on the 9th February, 1917, and joined up; whether he is aware that the Poole recruiting officer, although his attention was called to the mistake, refused to cancel his calling-up notice, and threatened that if he did not present himself on the day named at 9 a.m. he would be arrested as a deserter; whether he is aware that the man has not yet been released, although the Appeal Tribunal called the attention of the Director-General of Recruiting to the circumstances by letters dated the 12th and 26th February, 1917, and by telegram on the 8th March, 1917, the only answer given to the Appeal Tri- 402 bunal being a letter dated the 8th March stating that inquiries were still proceeding and that Foster had expressed his willingness to serve; and, in view of the fact that this was an employer's appeal and that Foster is therefore not the aggrieved party, whether the Army Council will give immediate instractions-that Myles Foster should be returned to civil life in order that he may be examined by the Central Medical Board?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONInquiry has been made into this case, which was, as stated brought to the notice of the War Office by the Hampshire Appeal Tribunal. It appears that a calling-up notice was sent to Foster in error, as his case had not been finally disposed of by the tribunal, but it is not known that the recrutiing officer at Poole refused to cancel the calling-up notice or threatened that Foster would be arrested as a deserter. Any man is entitled to join the Colours if he wishes to do so, notwithstanding that there may be an outstanding application before the tribunal, whether lodged by himself or his employer. It is reported that when Foster reported at the recruiting office, Dorchester, on the 9th February, he was informed that as the application was in fact outstanding he was at liberty to return home, but he stated that it was not by his wish that so much had been done by his employers to get him exempted, and that he did not desire to have any further delay in entering the Army and was prepared to join at once. On this statement he was posted to the Colours accordingly.
§ Sir G. BARINGIs the hon. Gentleman aware that Foster has since specifically denied that he ever said he wanted to join the Army and is at present anxious to return to civilian life, and under these circumstances will he cause further inquiry to be made?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI will certainly inquire.