Mr. THOMAS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for War when Private G. P. Richings, No. 74,468, Royal Army Medical Corps, 102nd Field Ambulance, British Expeditionary Force, may expect to be demobilised, seeing that he is thirty-nine years of age and joined the Colours in 1915?
Captain GUESTPrivate Richings is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his age and length of service is as stated by my hon. Friend he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of Service and his term of. Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. I would remind my hon. Friend that personnel of the Royal Army Medical Corps, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation until they can be replaced or their services dispensed with. Men so retained are-being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation.
Mr. T. DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for War on what date Private H. Keck, No. 80614, D Company, 9th Worcesters, may expect to be demobilised, seeing that he was promised his release on 18th March, 1919, and that he was over thirty-seven years of age on 1st January. 1919?
Captain GUESTInquiries are already being' made in' this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
Mr. T. DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for War when Sergeant Albert Smith, No. 445013, 87th Company, Chinese-Labour Corps, may expect his release, seeing he is nearly forty-one years old?
Captain GUESTSergeant Smith is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his age is as stated by my hon. Friend he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Secretary of State for War why Private A. P. J. Tucker, No. 115910, Army Service Corps, 407W Mechanical Transport Section, who joined the Army in July, 1915, is still in France with no intimation whatever that he is to be discharged?
Captain GUESTPrivate Tucker is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his length of service is as stated by my hon. Friend he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of Service, and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. I would remind my hon. Friend that personnel of the Royal Army Service. Corps, though eligible for demobilisation, is liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation until they can be replaced or their services can be dispensed with. Men so retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation.
§ Major CHRISTOPHER LOWTHERasked the Secretary of State for War what are the reasons for the retention in the Army of Captain W. W. Otter, Sussex Yeomanry, D.A.P.M., No. 8 (Kent) Area,. Eastern Command; and whether, in view of the importance of the return of this officer to his farm, he will direct that he be released?
Captain GUESTCaptain Otter is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If this officer's services are no longer required he will be released as soon as circumstances permit. I regret that I can take no special action in this matter.