§ Mr. WILKIEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, on or about 16th October, 1917, Mr. Thomas B. Levie, a foreman in the employment of Messrs. A. Hall and Company, shipbuilders, Aberdeen, while proceeding to his work along a public road regularly and habitually used by Messrs. Hall and Company's workmen on the way to their work, was shot and seriously wounded by the Admiralty sentry posted in defence of the Aberdeen pontoon, although Mr. Levie was obviously on the road leading to his own work, was not on any road leading to the pontoon, and was not approaching the pontoon; whether the action of the sentry was within the scope of his instructions; whether any independent inquiry into the circumstances has been or will be held; and whether the Admiralty will pay compensation to Mr. Levie for his injuries and for the loss he has sustained on account of his being negligently shot?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAbout 8.15 p.m. on the 16th October last the sentry on duty was at his post when he saw a man (who subsequently proved to be Mr. Thomas B. Levie) going in the direction of the Pontoon Dock. The sentry challenged the man three times and received no reply; he took a few more paces and challenged the man again. No reply was given; the sentry fired, and Mr. Levie was shot in the wrist. The sentry had instructions to challenge three times before firing.634W A Court of Inquiry was held on the 18th October last, but no other inquiry has been considered necessary or desirable. It appears that the sentry acted entirely in accordance with his orders; that he duly challenged Mr. Thomas Levie before firing, and there was no reason at all why the challenge should not have been heard, as the night was still. The question of compensation has been fully considered, and it has been decided that no claim can be admitted in such a case.