§ 20 Mr. MOLESasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Captain Walter A. Tyrrell, M.C., R.A.F., was killed in action in France on 9th June, 1918, and his brother, Captain J. M. Tyrrell, R.A.F. (attached), was killed in action on 20th June, 1918; whether Alderman J. Tyrrell, Belfast, father of these two gallant soldiers, was in August, 1918, informed by Messrs. Cox and Company, bankers, that all sums due to these two officers had then been credited to the Effects Department of the War Office; whether a letter to that Department was sent by Mr. Tyrrell on 17th August, 1918, and left unacknowledged until 22nd October, 1918, when a formal reply in the shape of Form No. 10 was sent; whether other letters sent by Mr. Tyrrell on the 5th and 1272
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that Alderman Tyrrell's letter was answered on the 18thSeptember, and the Department has been in constant communication with his solicitors since August last. The delay in settlement is largely due to the fact that the disposal of estates must await the report of the Committee of Adjustment in France, and must be carried out in due legal form. In the case of Captain Walter Tyrrell, the solicitors were informed on the 14th January that payment would be made on production of letters of administration or probate of will, but so far nothing has been produced. I can assure my hon. Friend that there is every desire on the part of the War Office to expedite settlement of these matters.