§ 30. Mr. JOYCEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the pledges repeatedly given in this House and by letter to Members of Parliament that young soldiers would not be sent out of this country until they had attained the 195 age of nineteen years and had sufficient training have been broken; will he state at what age and with what training such soldiers are now sent abroad; will he state whether he is aware that complaints are made by letter from many fathers and mothers that their soldier sons, in many cases of the age of eighteen years and some even under that age, are now being sent abroad without even getting any leave to visit their homes and relatives; and, if this is so, will he make it clear to the House and the country what is really being done by the military authorities in this matter?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid that I can add nothing to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday last.
§ Mr. JOYCEWould not the hon. Gentleman make that statement publicly in the House? Also has any complaint been made to him that a boy of sixteen and a half years has been sent to the front within the last fortnight?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIn regard to the last part of the question, I have had the case presented to me by my hon. Friend of a boy of sixteen and a half years who was unfortunately sent to the front. I am investigating that case, and I believe it will be found to be the case of a very gallant youth who gave his age at higher than it really was. I feel sure, however that once the boy's birth certificate is produced the military authorities will see that he is sent home.
§ Mr. JOYCEHas not this boy's father another son who is only nineteen years and two months whom he is willing to leave at the front?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONYes, I believe those, are the facts of the case.
§ Mr. HOGGECan my hon. Friend say that as the Rule now stands boys of eighteen and a half may be sent to the front, but not into the fighting line till they are actually nineteen?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo, I cannot say that the Rule at present is as stated by the hon. Member. I understand that the Rule is that a boy of eighteen and a half can be sent abroad for any purpose, but not sent to the front till fully trained.
Sir F. HALLIs it not a common practice, which shows the grit and pluck 196 of a lot of these boys, that they have very often given a higher age than they are, and that when this is brought to the notice of the commanding officers the necessary steps are taken to return these boys?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONYes, it is the fact as stated by the hon. Gentleman. I have-come across hundreds of these cases.
§ Mr. RENDALLIs it not the Rule that boys under eighteen and a half years-are returned now?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo, I do not think that is the Rule; a boy under eighteen and a half who was untrained, would not be sent to the front line, but would be kept for useful purposes behind the lines.