§ 7. Sir Robert Youngasked the Secretary of State for War whether arrange- 1719 ments can be made to obviate the enlistment of youths under 18 years of age by requiring that all those stating their age to be 18 should produce a birth certificate or baptismal document and thus prevent worry and expense to relatives who only learn of the enlistment after it has taken place?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe minimum age for enlistment as a man is now 20.
§ Sir R. YoungIf a boy is wanted at 17 would it not be possible to prove his age and put him in a special training company?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThat might be the case but the hon. Gentleman will realise that the minimum age is now 20, and, therefore, that question does not arise.
§ Sir R. YoungWhat happens when they become 20?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThey are not accepted for enlistment in the British Army to-day as men unless they are 20.
§ Mr. Robert GibsonHow is that fact proved to the satisfaction of the right hon. Gentleman's Department?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThey are called up under a regular procedure. Everybody between 20 and 22 is now called up, and, therefore, there is adequate proof of age. Volunteers have to be above that age.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir William AllenIs it not possible to have some method by which medical officers will not accept boys of 15, although they say they are 20; and is my right hon. Friend aware that this month I brought to his notice the case of a boy of 15 who, within a week of enlistment, was sent overseas?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI do not understand how such a case could possibly have happened. If it did it is a very regrettable occurrence, but under our system we have called up compulsorily the classes between 20 and 22, and there is ample verification of age in those classes. A man who wants to volunteer must be above that age unless, of course, he volunteers for boys' service in a training class, which is a different thing.
§ Sir W. AllenThe right hon. Gentleman has referred to compulsion. We have no compulsion in Ulster, and these boys can enlist.
§ Mr. SpeakerWe have a large number of questions on the Paper. I ask hon. Members to assist me in limiting the number of supplementary questions, and I hope they will do so.
§ 8. Sir R. Youngasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Fusilier Robert Chadwick, 3449377, gave his age as 18 when he enlisted 12 months ago, whereas his correct age was 18 on 2nd September, 1939; that he is now serving in France; and whether, in these circumstances, his enlistment age will be corrected and steps taken to return him to England in conformity with the decision that lads of his age would not be sent abroad?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaIn view of the hon. Member's statement as to the soldier's correct age, orders have been given that he should be withdrawn to a rearward area, pending verification. His parents should at once send a birth certificate to the War Office, together with a letter quoting their son's Army number, rank and unit, and, if the facts are as stated, he will be brought home.