§ 53. Mr. McGovernasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private McDonald, H.L.I., whose home address is at 1,097 Shettleston Road, Glasgow, has been in the service for 10 months, during which time he has never had a home leave, was sent to France without embarkation leave in spite of a letter from his O.C. stating that he was a good soldier and would receive embarkation leave; and, as this boy is only 18 years of age, if he will take steps to have him brought home.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power (Mr. Tom Smith)I have been asked to reply. Every endeavour is made to give privilege leave to newly-joined soldiers. But this man joined up in January and did not become eligible for ordinary leave before the general stoppage on leave was imposed on 6th April. For security reasons it was, I regret, not possible to grant embarkation leave to troops of 21 Army Group. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware men over 18½ may be sent overseas. I understand that this man was born on 20th December, 1925, and so was over 18 years and 8 months old when he went abroad on 2nd September, and I regret that he cannot be brought back to this country.
§ Mr. McGovernWill the hon. Member convey to the War Office the information—it has not come from the War Office—that this man has now been wounded in Holland, and will he ask the Secretary of State for War to give consideration to this case to see if the boy can be brought home; and is he further aware of the terrible state of affairs in many homes where young lads are sent abroad and do not see their families before they go abroad perhaps to die, and that this is causing very grave concern, and will that state of affairs be remedied?