§ 13. Mr. Pentlandasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the late 4451885 Rifleman Walter Thomson, 1st Cameronians was declared a deserter by a court of inquiry on 9th March, 1942, and that a board of inquiry decided, on 3rd June, 1959, that the original decision of the court of inquiry be annulled, and he now be declared missing, presumed died on active service in Burma, 1942; and, in view of the distress and disgrace caused to the father and relatives of this man over these years, what action he proposes to take to rectify this matter.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for War (Mr. Hugh Fraser)I am glad to confirm the facts given by the hon. Member. At the family's request, we conducted a most searching inquiry into this case. In the course of it, more than 150 letters were written to, or received from, survivors of the unit and were examined by a board of inquiry in April this year. I hope that the hon. Member's Question and my reply will serve to make known the fact that no stigma of desertion attaches to the memory of Rifleman Thomson.
§ Mr. PentlandI can assure the hon. Member that the father and relatives of this man will appreciate the sentiments he expressed at the end of his reply, but is he aware that for seventeen years the father and sister of this man carried out their own private investigation and inquiry into the original decision by the court of inquiry in 1942, at great personal expense to themselves? Now that the stigma of desertion has been cleared from this man's name by the board of 1161 inquiry in June of this year, is it not possible for the hon. Member to ask his right hon. Friend if he could recommend that an ex gratia payment be made to this man's father who is an old-age pensioner and a war-disabled man of the 1914–18 war? That, in itself, would at least compensate him for so many years of distress and heavy financial loss.
§ Mr. FraserI would also like to pay tribute to the perseverance of this man's family, and I am delighted that what has come about has come about, but I take the view that this is not a matter which can be put right by paying compensation. If this man's family has been put to any expense in its inquiries my right hon. Friend will be very pleased to consider the position.