HC Deb 31 July 1951 vol 491 cc1177-8
33. Commander Noble

asked the Secretary of State for War why Mrs. Martin received no information from his Department about her son, since died of wounds received in Korea, between 18th April when she was informed that he was severely wounded and about 22nd May when she flew out as he was dangerously ill, in spite of the fact that she herself knew of his whereabouts and informed his Department accordingly.

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Strachey)

The hon. and gallant Member will by now have received a letter from my hon. Friend explaining in full the circumstances of this tragic case.

Commander Noble

Is the Minister aware that if this lady had not heard by chance that her son was in a Danish hospital ship, he might have died without the War Office knowing anything about it until afterwards? Will he give an assurance that when there is no news, as in this case, nothing is ever taken for granted until the fullest possible inquiries have been made?

Mr. Strachey

Certainly, Sir; but the difficulty was, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman says, that this man was in a Danish ship and was then transferred to an American hospital, and he did not come under our direct jurisdiction during that period.

Commander Noble

Is it not the case that if, when this lady began to make inquiries, the fullest possible inquiries had been made at the other end—and it is at the other end that I suggest the fault lies—information could have been given?

Captain Ryder

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that in the special circumstances existing in Korea, with so many different nationalities, the arrangements for pooling and exchanging information are adequate?

Mr. Strachey

We do our best in that direction. It does produce, of course, a complication, and we are always trying to improve these arrangements, but delays do sometimes arise because of that factor.

37. Mr. Fitzroy Maclean

asked the Secretary of State for War how many different bodies were identified as that of 1115452 Gunner Ernest Clinton; and on what grounds.

Mr. Strachey

Only one body was so identified. The evidence of identification consisted of statements signed by two of this soldier's comrades and countersigned by his battery commander. I am sending the hon. Member copies of their statements giving the exact grounds of identification.

Mr. Maclean

Can the right hon. Gentleman say, in these circumstances, why he referred to a second body in reply to a supplementary question by me last month?

Mr. Strachey

There were other bodies exhumed at the time, and sketches were made of the tattoo marks on these bodies. One of these sketches, as the hon. Member knows, was sent to Mrs. Clinton, and she was clear that this was not of the body of her husband.