§ 7. Mr. PERCY ALFRED HARRISasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any youths under nineteen have been sent overseas by the military authorities since the 8th August; and whether arrangements have been made to withdraw from the front-line trenches lads under nineteen who were already overseas by that date?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)As I stated in Debate on the 7th August last, it was decided that from the end of August no soldier under nineteen years of age should be sent overseas, and this rule is still in force. The question of the withdrawal of those already in the firing line is for the decision of the Commander-in-Chief. Representations have already been made to him, but, in view of the military situation, he was unable to agree to their withdrawal. The matter is, however, still under his consideration, and I am sure that as soon as such a step is practicable the Field-Marshal will give instructions for these young soldiers to be withdrawn from the firing line.
§ Mr. HARRISIs it not a fact that the French military authorities keep lads under nineteen in training depots, and do not send them to the front? And will the Under-Secretary make strong representations as to the strong feeling in this House against keeping lads under nineteen in the firing line? Many of them in the meantime are being killed.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have said we have made representations to the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, who is the best judge of the needs of the forces. I can assure the House again that it is with the greatest possible regret that these-young lads have been sent to the front.
§ Mr. HOGGEWhy is it necessary to have lads of eighteen and a half in the firing line when, as the Prime Minister Assured us, 300,000 reserves were in this country when these lads were put in?
Colonel LOWTHERDo not the lads under nineteen show great gallantry in the line as well as in the air, and would it not be an unpardonable injury to them if they were withdrawn?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAll I can say is that their conduct at the front has been simply magnificent.
§ Mr. HARRISIs it not the opinion of the medical authorities that lads under nineteen are not fit to stand the physical strain of modern trench warfare?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo, Sir; that is not their opinion.
§ Mr. ANEURIN WILLIAMSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Private Thomas Atkinson, No. L/16706, Lincolnshire Yeomanry; whether this lad will not be eighteen until June next year; whether he joined the Army voluntarily in December, 1917, when he was only sixteen; whether he is an orphan and was brought up by his elder brother, who is now an invalid and in want; and whether, in spite of the fact that the lad has now had ten months' training and cannot be sent abroad on account of his age, the Army authorities refuse to allow him to return to civil life to help to support the brother who brought him up?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis case has been carefully considered, but I regret that Private Atkinson cannot be released from the Army.