§ 39. Mr. Cobbasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his 210 attention has been drawn to the case of Petty-Officer Jack Mantle, who was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment at a court-martial held at Chatham on 22nd November, 1946; and if he will state under which section of the Naval Discipline Act this man was charged and the exact wording of the charge made against him.
Mr. DugdaleYes, Sir. The charge brought against Assistant Cook (S) Jack Mantle at Chatham, on 22nd November last, was under Section 19 of the Naval Discipline Act, and was worded as follows:
For that he, Jack Mantle, Assistant Cook (S), Official Number Chatham MX. 56498, belonging to His Majesty's Ship 'Pembroke,' then being a person subject to the Naval Discipline Act, did on the 20th day of February, 1939, desert from the said ship.Although Mantle was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment and to dismissal from His Majesty's Service, the sentence was reduced on review by the Admiralty to 60 days' imprisonment and dismissal from the Service, and Mantle was released from prison after serving 40 days from the date of his sentence.
§ Mr. CobbWill my hon. Friend say why this man was kept in solitary confinement for eight weeks awaiting trial, and why the defending officer did not take steps to verify the man's story that he served for five years in the Army during the time he was absent from the Navy?
Mr. DugdaleWith regard to the second part of that question, the fact remains that when the case was reviewed by the Admiralty, these facts were taken fully into consideration, and as a result of their being taken into consideration, the sentence was reduced.
§ Captain MarsdenHow long was this man absent after deserting before he surrendered or was apprehended?
Mr. DugdaleThat is an important point. He was absent from early in 1939 to March, 1941, when other men were, in fact, serving.