HC Deb 11 June 1918 vol 106 cc2016-7
17. Mr. OUTHWAITE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the refusal of the Director of Mobilisation to grant the release from military service of Private E. J. Hilton, No. 10960, 6th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers; and, in view of the fact that his mother is a widow, that at. the outbreak of war she had five sons living at home, of whom one has been killed in France and four are now on active service, including Sergeant J. Hilton, D.C.M., and that, owing to a misunderstanding, Private Hilton, the fifth and last son, had been called up before his claim for exemption came before the Stoke-on-Trent Tribunal, and that the tribunal granted exemption in recognition of the record of the family and requested the military representative to secure his release from the Army, will he take steps to have further consideration given to this case?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Private Hilton is in Category A, and, owing to the urgent need for men, it is regretted that his release on compassionate grounds cannot be sanctioned. I am in communication with my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Service with regard to the last part of the question.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the tribunal had exempted the man, and that simply an oversight as to appeal prevented the decision of the tribunal from being carried out, and he was taken into the Army before he could appeal?

Mr. MACPHERSON

He was a serving soldier, and his release is a matter entirely for the War Office. This is a very hard case, but I can assure my hon. Friend that it is not nearly so hard as hundreds of others I have before me.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the fact that this is a case in which the tribunal had exempted the man, and that it was due to an oversight in regard to an appeal that the man was taken into the Army before he could appeal?

Mr. MACPHERSON

As I have said, I will communicate with my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Service on that particular point.