§ Mr. CAREWasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can now state the result of his promised inquiry as to the circumstances connected with the death at Blandford of Private C. Rundle, 9th Battalion Somersetshire Light Infantry?
§ Mr. TENNANTPrivate Rundell joined the 9th Somerst Light Infantry as a recruit in January, 1916, and there is no record of his reporting sick before 7th March, when the officer in medical charge of the battalion noticed that his condition was unsatisfactory. On the 8th March he was excused duty and he was seen almost every day between that date and 23rd March except on 22nd March. On the 15th March he and other men in his hut were inoculated owing to a case of cerebro-spinal fever, but he did not as a result show any sign of acute illness. On 23rd March he was found by the medical officer to be seriously ill, and it was decided that it was desirable to send him to the military hospital at Wareham rather than to admit him to the Blandford Detention Hospital. He was sent in a motor ambulance wagon, well wrapped up, and in charge of a sergeant of the Royal Army Medical Corps, but died on the journey. Private Rundell2404W was suffering from acute broncho-pneumonia, and at the same time had general tuberculosis; onset of the pneumonia was very rapid and severe.