§ 97. Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Secretary of State for War whether Corporal Ban-key, No. 284457, Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport), Grove Park, London, has been sent home from Salonika unfit after two and a half: years' service there; whether he is entitled to seven days' leave for each six months as per Army Order G.R.O. 4,840, paragraph. 881, A.C. 1, 1/1,815, 1918; why he has only been allowed ten days' leave; whether he is aware that he is suffering from malaria, and has been certified as unable to travel at the expiry of his leave; and whether he will arrange that, in this case, demobilisation shall take place under Army Order, 29th January, 1919, page 4, paragraph 7, seeing that he was recommended to the War Office by the Ministry of Labour before 1st February, 1919?
Captain GUESTThere is no Regulation authorising leave in this case on the scale suggested, and ten days is the usual period granted. I am informed that the General Routine Order quoted does not bear on the subject. Corporal Sankey did not return at the expiry of his leave, and was in consequence charged as an absentee. He did not produce a medical certificate on returning four days later, but stated that one was being forwarded. On receipt of the certificate, the case of absence was dismissed. Corporal Sankey is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, and I regret he is not eligible for demobilisation under existing Regulations. If, however, he comes within any of the categories mentioned in the Memorandum published on the 17th July he will be released accordingly.