§ 79. Mr. MOSLEYasked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that Staff-sergeant F. A. Greenham, No. 022529, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, who is at present on leave in this country, has been refused demobilisation and ordered to return to Russia on the expiration of his leave; whether he is aware that Sergeant-Greenham is forty-three (years of age, married, and the proprietor of a one-man business; whether these facts are compatible with his statement on 20th May to the effect that men in Russia are governed by the same conditions as regards eligibility for demobilisation as those serving elsewhere, but their relief has hitherto been delayed through climatic and other difficulties in connection with transportation; and, if so, whether he will state what difficulties affect the release of this man who is at present domiciled in his own home in England?
Captain GUESTSergeant Greenham is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his age is as stated by my hon. Friend he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service, and his term of Colour service is not completed. I would refer to the answers given to my hon. Friend on the 5th instant regarding the return to Russia of all men on leave from that theatre of War, and to the statement on the 20th instant that men of all categories of service are being retained in Russia pending the relief of that force.
§ Captain ORMSBY-GOREIs not this man a man who enlisted in 1915, who has been to Murmansk, and who is now home on leave, and is it necessary that he should return to Murmansk to be demobilised?
Captain GUESTI think my hon. Friend will see that; if the policy he suggests were adopted it would be impossible to keep up the force at Murmansk.
§ Colonel PENRY WILLIAMSWill the hon. Gentleman see that instructions are given that men over thirty-seven years old are not sent to Russia; and is he aware that it is the practice, in Salonika especially, for men to be drafted to Russia, although they are forty-two or forty-three years of age?
Captain GUESTThis is a case of a man who has come from Russia on leave, and is merely returning according to the the contract on which he got his leave. The matter raised by the hon. Gentleman (Colonel P. Williams) is another point.
§ 81. Sir MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the Secretary for War with regard to the case of Private F. D. Buxton, 15th Lancashire Fusiliers (1st Salfords), attached to 2nd Infantry Battalion Headquarters, Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army on the Rhine, and of 18, Davis Street, Longsight, Manchester; whether he is aware that the man joined up in 1914 and is, therefore, entitled according to 1919 Regulations to early demobilisation; and whether applications have been made on his behalf with out result and without the letters being answered?
Captain GUESTInquiries are already being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ 82. Sir M. BARLOWasked the Secretary for War, with regard to Sapper J. B. Dobson, No. 54658, Royal Engineers, now at c/o A. P. M., the Castle, Cape- Town, South Africa, and of 4, Wilton Place, St. Phillips, Salford, whether he is aware that this man joined up on 4th September, 1914, and therefore, according to the regulations, is entitled to an early discharge; whether he is being detained at Cape Town on police duty; and whether instructions can be sent for his release?
Captain GUESTSapper Dobson is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his length of service is as stated by my hon. Friend, he is eligible for demobilisation unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible, he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. I would remind my hon. 1217 Friend that personnel serving with the Corps of Military Police, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation until their services can be spared or they can be replaced. Men retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation. Under these circumstances I regret I can take no special action in this case.
§ Sir M. BARLOWIn view of the fact that this man is not attached primarily to the police, but has been, apparently, attached for that special duty, cannot his case be specially considered and he be sent home in the ordinary course?
Captain GUESTI will have further inquiries made, but the police are very essential for demobilisation.
§ 83. Mr. RUPERT GWYNNEasked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that Private W. Barnard, No. 30, 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, who is now home on leave from North Russia, at 70, Sydney Road, Eastbourne, owing to the recent death of his father, has been refused demobilisation in spite of the fact that he enlisted in 1914 and he is now the only support of his widowed mother: and whether, in view of these facts, he will have his case reconsidered?
Captain GUESTThe application made on behalf of Private Barnard received careful consideration, but as it does not come within the scope of the instructions recently issued governing demobilisation on compassionate grounds, it was refused, and I regret that I am not prepared to reconsider the decision. If his length of service is as stated by my hon. Friend, ho is eligible for demobilisation unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible, he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ 89. Mr. NEIL M'LEANasked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that Sergeant M. M'AIvon, No. 76284, F Corps, Signal Company, Royal Engineers, Cologne, re-enlisted in the Glasgow Territorials on 14th September, 1914, and has nerved overseas in France and Belgium since 27th May, 1915; whether he has been appealed for by the Glasgow postmaster through the War Office in G.H. 2, priority list No. 5, as a skilled telegraphist; and 1218 whether he will arrange that this man, who is urgently required by the post office in Glasgow, will be demobilised?
Captain GUESTSergeant M'Alvon is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If his length of service is as stated by my hon. Friend he is eligible for demobilisation and he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. I would remind my hon. Friend that personnel of the Royal Engineers, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained until their services can be spared or they can be replaced. Men so retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation. Under these circumstances, I regret I can take no special action in this case.
§ Mr. M'LEANWill the hon. Gentleman explain what is meant by this repetition of phrases?
§ Mr. M'LEANBecause these individuals——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is not yet a Minister and must not answer questions.