76. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in some instances considerable delay takes place in granting special leave to other ranks overseas in cases of serious illness at home; that in the case of Private C. Reynolds, No. WR/22459, of the 312th R. C. Company, Royal Engineers, British Expeditionary Force, a wire was received oversea on 26th October, 1918, from the house surgeon of Maidstone Hospital, that his wife was 1750 seriously ill, and leave was not granted until 5th November 1918; that in the case of Private C. Willgoose, No. WR/22510, of the 312th R. C. Company, Royal Engineers, British Expeditionary Force, a wire was received overseas on 6th November, 1918, from the Kingston police that his wife was dangerously ill, that leave was not granted until 17th November, 1918, and that his wife died before he reached home; and whether steps can be taken whereby similar delays shall not be possible in future?
Captain GUESTI can assure my hon. Friend that cases of this nature are always dealt with sympathetically and as expeditiously as possible. I have no information regarding the two cases mentioned but I am making inquiries and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.