§ Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has obtained information about John Catherall Penny, of Chelmsford, who is a conscientious 1041W objector to military service; whether he has been drafted to the 2/1st Herts Regiment and was tried by regimental court-martial at Newmarket; whether he was tried a second time by a district court-martial at Newmarket on 9th June; whether he was sentenced by it to two years' hard labour; and why he was not handed over to a civil prison instead of being retained in Springfield Military Gaol, Chelmsford?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am still awaiting a report on this case.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is in a position to give information concerning Harold Reuthe, of Bromley Common, Kent, who is a conscientious objector; whether he was, during his detention at Chelmsford, illegally knocked down and dragged into a dark cell; whether he has been, or will be, sent to France; and whether he is still disobeying orders?
§ Mr. TENNANTI would refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave to the hon. Member for "West Leeds on the 26th June. In a letter addressed to his commandant, Harold Reuthe says, "Beyond the inconvenience and natural irksomeness of confinement, I am well and as happy as can be under the circumstances." I am sure my hon. Friend will be reassured to find that the allegations contained in his question are without foundation.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has inquired into the case of James Pitts, a conscientious objector, who is, or recently was, at the non-combatant camp, 3rd Dorset Regiment, Wyke Regis; why was this man arrested before the day fixed for the reviewing of his case by the tribunal; whether he has been sent to France; if not, is it intended to send him abroad; and is he still disobeying orders?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am obtaining a report.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether R. E. Pond and W. A. Cooper, conscientious objectors, have been court-martialled a second time; whether they are now or recently were at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield; whether their conduct there has been good and respectful to their officers apart from their refusal to do military service; will he say why they were not handed over to a civil 1042W prison when they had been sentenced by the first court-martial: whether it is intended to send these men to France; and, if so, whether they will be allowed the usual leave given to soldiers who are ordered abroad?
§ Mr. TENNANTIf the hon. Member will state the sentence awarded by the first court-martial and the date on which the sentence was signed I shall be in a position to say why they were not handed over to a civil prison. If, as he says, these men are refusing to do military service, the question as to whether their conduct has been good and respectful in other respects does not arise. If the hon. Member will state the regimental number and unit to which these conscientious objectors belong I shall be in a position to say whether or not they will be sent to France, as also whether they will be allowed leave prior to proceeding abroad.
§ Mr. HOGGEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has inquired into the treatment of J. H. Lees, at Duddingston Camp, Edinburgh; whether this case of ill-treatment was witnessed by three privates whose names and numbers were supplied to him; and whether he has had any report?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have no recollection of having been asked to inquire into this case, and I have no report of it.