HC Deb 04 July 1910 vol 18 c1475W
Sir IVOR HERBERT

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, under the terms of the gracious pardon recently granted by His Majesty the King on his accession, deserters from the Army or Navy, who having made a false declaration on re-enlistment may now be in either service, will, on confession of the fact of their desertion, be relieved of all liability in respect both of desertion and of making a false declaration; and whether they will be permited in every case to continue serving in the units and services to which they now belong?

Mr. HALDANE

Deserters from the Army will, under the circumstances referred to, be granted a pardon if they surrender before 23rd July, 1910, at home or before 23rd September, 1910, abroad. They will be allowed to serve in the corps in which they are at the time of surrender, except those soldiers who come under the conditions of paragraph 526, King's Regulations. A deserter from the Navy who joined the Army would not be subject to military law at the time of his offence, and the pardon would not be applicable in his case.