§ 68. Mr. John Dugdaleasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the introduction of a short cut mail 1359 service for relatives of men who have been wounded similar to that recently started in Canada.
§ The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Mr. Arthur Henderson)Commanding officers of hospitals have instructions to forward to a soldier's next-of-kin, within 24 hours of admission, a postcard giving his hospital address and his state of health. To avoid interruption in postal communications, the hospital authorities send a similar card to the soldier's unit to enable the rapid redirection of any mail received. These cards are given priority of treatment in the Army Postal Service and despatched by the fastest available means, generally by air. The adoption of the Canadian system has been considered but I am advised that the present procedure is as satisfactory and expeditious as can be devised in the difficult conditions which exist in a theatre of active operations.