§ 5. Mr. HAYDN JONESasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Private G. H. Parsons, No. 372,502, Post Office Rifles, who, after being severely wounded in the left arm at Bullecourt in May, 1917, was a patient in the Dublin and Brighton Hospitals till the 12th March, 1918; whether he is aware that, on discharge from hospital, he was classified B 2, afterwards transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps and 1256 then to a Labour unit, and found in each case unfit for service; that he was sent by the regimental medical officer to the discharge centre, Aldershot, with a recommendation that he be discharged; that, notwithstanding this record, he was declared fit for service overseas and sent home on draft leave; that, although attention had been drawn to the case by the hon. Member for Merioneth, the soldier was sent overseas; that, on landing in France, he was examined by a medical officer who referred the case to a medical board; and that such board found Parsons to be unfit, ordered him to hospital at Boulogne, and, after two days, sent him back to England; whether he is aware that he is now at the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester; and what action it is proposed to take to inquire into the conduct of the officers who were responsible for sending this soldier abroad and their fitness for the duties of their office?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)I regret that my inquiries in this case, which necessitated reference to the military authorities in France, are not yet complete. As I informed my hon. Friend on Tuesday last, I will write to him as soon as possible.