§ 5. Mr. RENDALLasked the Under-secretary of State for War whether he is aware that three sons of Mr. J. Matthews have been killed in the War, two this year, particulars of which have been given him; that he has declined to request that the two remainings sons now fighting should be transferred to Home service; that he has since declined a request that one of these two sons, aged thirty-seven, who has been in active fighting since July, 1916, and was gassed at Passchaendaele in October, 1917, and who is now training as an Infantry cadet, should be transferred either to the Army Service Corps or to the Railway Transport Section; and will he reconsider this case?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONCertain definite limitations governing the transfer of men to Home service have been laid down and, as I have already explained to my hon. Friend, this case does not come within those limits. I very much regret that in the circumstances I can take no special action.
§ Mr. RENDALLDoes my right hon. Friend think that when the father of a family has given three sons who have been killed, in regard to the two others—one a man of 37 years—he ought not to have some small consideration?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMost certainly I am anxious to meet such cases. We have laid down a rule that in the case of an only surviving son, that son is kept for Home service.