§ 5. Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether the body of Private F. Morris, 28360, 1st Royal Scots Regiment, who, after three and a half years' service, without leave, recently died at the University Hospital, Southampton, was forwarded to his widow only half-covered and packed in sawdust in a plain wooden case, with an official message that all expenses and fees from station to home and cemetery were to be paid by her; whether the widow had to pawn certain articles in order to pay the cost of a firing party; and whether he will take steps to see that in future more regard is paid to the memory of the dead and to the feelings of their relatives?
Captain GUESTI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave yesterday on this subject to the hon. Member for Govan. As regards the funeral expenses, it is the practice of the Department in cases where, at the request of relatives, the body is sent home for burial away from the station at which the soldier died, to pay what would be the actual cost of a military funeral at the place where death occurred, the cost of transport of the body to the railway station nearest to the place where the burial is to take place, and the cost of a firing party if available. Under this procedure, I understand that a small balance will be payable in this case, and I am taking steps to see that this sum is issued to the widow. I have not yet received a reply to my inquiry regarding the alleged charge for the firing party.