§ 37. Mr. N. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private J. Mills, No. 75820, 1st battalion Highland Light Infantry, is under eighteen years of age; whether his mother has made application for his release and been refused; whether he can state the grounds for this refusal; and whether, in view of the number of such enlistments and the subsequent applications for their release, he can give any assurance that the desires of their parents for the release of boys under eighteen will be granted?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The application for the discharge of Private Mills was refused as no reasonable grounds existed for authorising his discharge. I regret I cannot give the assurance asked for in the last part of the question. If the hon. Member will call on the Director-General of Demobilisation, War Office (St. James's Park), details of this particular case and the method of dealing with all such applications will be fully explained to him.
§ Mr. MACLEANDoes the right hon. Gentleman wish us to understand that the safety of the country depends on the retention in the Army of boys under eighteen years of age whose homes are in a state of destitution and who are required at home to maintain their mothers and families?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere are Regulations covering these cases enabling the review of cases of young soldiers who, on enlistment, made a false statement as to their age. The making of a false attestation is an indictable offence, but if the youth is a well grown lad and physically fit and strong it is the practice, within 224 certain limitations, to hold him to the undertaking he enters into when he enlists.
§ Mr. MACLEANIf it is an indictable offence, and if, under military Regulations, you could keep a lad who lied about his age at a time when he is supposed to be patriotic—that is, during the War—why should the mother of that boy be penalised? It is not the boy who is penalized but his home. I should like to ask further, under what military Regulations he can hold a boy under eighteen years of age when the parents make application for his release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWe certainly have the power to do so, and in many cases, the boy wishes to stay. The pay which is given him in the Army enables him to make a considerable remittance to his home.
§ Mr. MACLEANI want the Regulations and not a general statement. In this case the boy is not willing to remain in the Army, he wants to get out.
§ Sir H. CRAIKWill the right hon Gentleman resist the desire apparently entertained on the part of Labour Members to force young men against their will to retire from the profession of arms?
§ Mr. DUNCAN GRAHAMIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is building up his Army under false pretences?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI cannot admit that. Here are young men who joined the Army and have since got older and stronger. We have spent money on their training and feeding, and general development, and we are entitled to hold them to the undertaking which they made in their attestation papers. But if any special circumstances are brought to our notice we give them consideration. As soon as the Conscription Act lapses it will be quite possible for anyone interested to buy them out of the Army.
§ Mr. STANTONIf we had no Army where would the Labour party be?
§ Mr. MACLEANI have asked the right hon. Gentleman to quote the Regulation under which he holds this boy.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI cannot give chapter and verse off-hand, but if a question is put on the Paper I will state the authority under which we act.