HC Deb 04 August 1925 vol 187 cc1131-2
8. Mr. W. BAKER

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Harold Bassett, of 13, The Ropewalk, Bristol, who is 18 years of age, was enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment; that this boy was totally unfit for military service owing to a compound fracture of the left arm and to an injury to the head, which left him with mental disadvantages; and that the boy complained of ill-treatment which led to his desertion; that, as a result of action taken by the hon. Member for East Bristol, this boy has now been discharged under paragraph 363 (vi) (b), King's Regulations; and whether he has authorised a special inquiry to ascertain the circumstances under which such an enlistment was possible and to prevent the possibility of a recurrence?

The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)

This man was medically examined on enlistment, and was found to be physically fit for service in any part of the world. He has now been discharged from the Army, not as medically unfit, but under paragraph 363 (vi) (b) of the King's Regulations, as not being likely to become an efficient soldier. His failure may have been due, at any rate in part, to the injury to his head to which the hon. Member refers; but I do not think there is anything in the circumstances of the case to suggest that the recruiting authorities did not exercise reasonable care. As regards the complaint of ill-treatment, I have had this investigated by Bassett's Commanding Officer, who reports that he can find no justification for the complaint. He states that special care was taken to give this recruit every opportunity, in the hope that he would settle down and make a good soldier.

Mr. BAKER

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman how he succeeds in explaining the difference between the man's condition on enlistment and when he was finally re-examined?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

I think the hon. Member is wrong with with regard to the condition on enlistment. He says the boy was totally unfit for military service owing to a compound fracture of the left arm. That does not appear to be in accordance with the facts.