§ 9. Mr. GARDNERasked the Secretary of State for War why pension has been refused in the case of Gertrude Phyllis Harrison, widow of the late John Percival Andrew Harrison, Sergeant, No. 1020803, Royal Tank Corps, and her three children under six years of age; whether he is aware that the late Sergeant Harrison enlisted as a boy on 3rd January, 1912, and died in the Military Hospital, Shorncliffe Camp, on 30th January, 1925, the cause of death being pneumonia; that Dr. John J. Proctor, late medical officer in charge of troops, Lydd Camp, certified that in his physical condition Harrison had no chance of recovery from the onset of the pneumonia and that his previous state was entirely due to his service and serious wounds incurred in the Great War; that Lieut.-Colonel W. Shannon, commanding officer, 3rd Battalion Royal Tank Corps, submitted to the court of inquiry a statement detailing the service of Sergeant Harrison overseas, noting that he had been wounded three times, once severely, and added that prior to his decease he was employed on company training at Lydd, during which period the weather was very cold, and it is possible that he contracted a chill, leading to pneumonia, through sudden exposure to the cold air whilst proceeding from one tank to another tank, the temperature in the tanks being very heated; and whether, having regard to all the circumstances, he will reconsider the decision to refuse pension?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Captain Douglas King)The facts of this case have already been fully considered not only by the War Office, but also by the Ministry of Pensions and the Appeal Tribunal, and I regret that there are no grounds for reconsidering the decision that the grant of a pension is not admissible.
§ Mr. GARDNERIs it not now the policy of the War Office to refuse to acknowledge any pensions in all cases of chest troubles?
§ Captain KINGNo. Each case is considered on its merits.