§ 72. Mr. Walter Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the father of Rifleman John William Paton, 14443813, The Cameronians, S.R., who is seriously wounded and in a British military hospital, having lost half his left leg and being badly wounded in the other, has been informed that his son is absent without leave and has been ordered to hand in his allowance order book immediately; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent parents being further distressed in this manner.
§ Sir J. GriggI much regret the distress caused to the parents of this man as a result of the notification, later proved to be incorrect, which was sent to the regimental paymaster, who deals with this man's accounts. The allowance book was returned to the father on 18th January, as soon as it was clear that a mistake had been made. The matter is being further investigated, in order to find out how the mistake arose.
§ Mr. EdwardsWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that this really does not happen again? I understand that in quite a large number of cases parents have been distressed in this way, and cannot the right hon. Gentleman do anything to ensure that the Record Office will be absolutely certain before sending out such notices?
§ Sir J. GriggThe Record Office are not to blame in these cases. It is the notification from the theatre of war which is normally to blame, and I think a certain number of mistakes of that kind are understandable. I think that there have been three or four of them, and I regret them all; but I would be sorry if the public got the impression that there was avoidable carelessness. Anyhow, as soon as I have the facts, I shall be able to see if there are any defects in the machinery. The last case, I went into the matter of machinery, and I thought I had made some improvement.