§ Mr. ELLIS DAVIESasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that some members of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers now in France have been from home for over two years; and whether they can hope for leave at an early date?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have frequently explained that, subject to the exigencies of the military situation, everything possible is done by the military authorities in the matter of leave for troops serving overseas, but I regret that cases such as 991W those mentioned by my hon. Friend cannot be entirely avoided. It is the policy as far as possible to give preference to men who have been longest overseas, and I am sure that the men of the battalion mentioned will receive sympathetic treatment with others similarly situated. My hon. Friend will, of course, realise that at the present time leave from France has practically ceased.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a soldier who left England in 1914, went all through the Gallipoli campaign, and has, as yet, had no home leave; and, if so, can he state what steps will be taken to obtain home leave for this soldier?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am sure that the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief gives sympathetic consideration to all cases such as that mentioned by my hon. Friend in his question, but owing to the transport facilities being very limited and infrequent, I am afraid that cases of hardship cannot be entirely avoided. I regret that it is not possible to take any special action in the case of the soldier about whom my hon. Friend has written to me.