§ Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Private Aldred, 6,034, C Company, 9th Battalion Queen Victoria's Rifles, is now at Fovant Camp, Wilts; whether he has been tried by court-martial; if so, for what offence; whether he has been sentenced to punishment; where he is now; and whether he is aware that at the time of his arrest Private Aldred was not on the Military Register, having been entered as married under the Registration Act, 1915?
§ Mr. TENNANTI cannot undertake to ask for progress reports about individual soldiers. As regards the last part of the question, I undertand that the question whether Aldred is married for the purposes of the Military Service Act has been the subject of a judicial decision, and upon this it would not, of course, be for me to comment.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has, informed himself about Geoffrey Austin Lees, of Severn Bank Cottage, Hallen, Gloucestershire, who was, on 4th May, arrested as an absentee under the Military-Service Act, 1916, and taken that day to Horfield Barracks, Bristol; whether he is aware that his mother has inquired every day since at the barracks for information concerning him, and has been refused any tidings, and that she fears he may be no longer alive; whether he will say whether Austin is still alive; and, if so, where he now is; and whether he will be allowed to write to or receive letters from his mother?
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not think what is stated in this question affords anyprimâ. facie ground for making inquiry. I can see no reason whatever why Austin should not be alive, and I know of nothing which should prevent him from communicating with his mother. My experience is that soldiers, especially those who have been guilty, are able to communicate freely with Members of this House, and I assume that they also communicate with their parents.