§ Major NALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private James Goodwin, No. 206804, 3rd Battalion, Lincoln Regiment, G Camp, No. 69 Block, Royal Field Artillery Barracks, Clonmel, county Tipperary, is entitled to a wound stripe for being blown up by a mine and buried on 1st January, 1917, resulting in a serious operation; and whether, as he has already been wounded twice in 1918, he is thereby eligible for demobilisation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that Private Goodwin has only been reported wounded twice by the Base, namely:
He is therefore ineligible for demobilisation on the ground of wounds.
- (1) Report on 9th July, 1918, for a wound received in May, 1918.
- (2) Reported on 30th October, 1918, for a wound received on 8th October, 1918.
§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the demobilisation papers of private D. Brown, No. 91920, dispenser, 20th Stationary Hospital, Salonika, as a pivotal man, went through the headquarters last December, but that no action is being taken for his release, and whether he will have inquiries made into the case before Private Brown is sent to Russia?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Brown is not registered by the War office either as pivotal or for special release, and I am informed by my right. hon. Friend the Minister for Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If, however, this man is eligible under current instructions, he will, no doubt, be released as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Staff-Sergeant W. Thomson, No. S 4/086985, 365th Company, Royal Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport, British Expeditionary Force, enlisted at Glasgow in April, 1915, having travelled from Vancouver, British Columbia, especially for this purpose, and being rejected for the Infantry owing to defective 2249W eyesight; That his father, Mr. W. Thomson, piano manufacturer, 7, Govan Road, Glasgow, has to proceed to Vancouver enurgent business on 24th May; and that, in the interests of his business, it is urgently necessary that his son should replace him in Glasgow while he is away and thereby enable additional labour to be employed; and whether, in view of these circumstances, into which inquiry has been made, he can undertake to release Staff-Sergeant Thomson before the 24th May, more particularly as it is understood his unit is to be disbanded?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf the facts are as stated Sergeant Thomson would appear to be eligible for demobilisation and repatriation overseas at the public expense. If he makes a claim for repatriation overseas, and his claim is approved, he can elect to take a deferred passage which must be claimed within six months of demobilisation. He should apply to his commanding officer for the necessary Army forms.
§ Mr. CROOKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Driver A. E. Devonshire, No. 770091, A Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, 16th Brigade, British Expeditionary Force, Germany, is forty-three years of age, is married, and has eight children, and has not had leave for over twelve months; that his demobilisation papers arrived in January but that up to the present nothing has been done to secure his demobilisation, although younger men have been discharged in the meantime; and whether he will make inquiries into this case?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Driver Devonshire's age is as stated by my right hon. Friend he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation. If so, he will be released as soon as circumstances permit. It is not understood what the papers are which my right hon. Friend refers to as "demobilisation papers" but this man is not registered either as pivotal or for special release; nor is there any trace of any application regarding him having been received by the War Office.
§ Mr. F. C. THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give orders for the release, on compassionate grounds, of Pioneer A. C. McDonald, No. W.R.-26185, 3rd Platoon, 341st Road Company, British Expeditionary Force, in view of the fact that he is greatly needed by his father to help in 2250W his work, and that of the father's four other sons two have been killed in the War, and the other two so severely wounded as to be discharged as unfit for further service through wounds; and whether, in view of the fact that application for Pioneer McDonald's release has been in the hands of the authorities for a month, steps can be taken to hasten instructions for his release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries will be made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Mr. THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for War why Private William Stewart, No. D.M. 2/228823, Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport), care of A.P.O.S., 106, Brussels, a pivotal man, is still retained with the Colours; and if he will give instructions for his immediate demobilisation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Stewart is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. I am also informed by my hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If, however, this soldier is eligible for demobilisation under current instructions he will no doubt be released as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private C. B. Liddell, No. 56198, Royal Army Medical Corps, 15th C.C.S., British Expeditionary Force, is entitled to demobilisation; and, if so, whether he is likely to be demobilised?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs my hon. and gallant Friend has not informed me of Private Liddell's age or date of enlistment, I am unable to state whether he is eligible for demobilisation. Should he, however, be eligible, he will be released as soon as circumstances permit, but it must be remembered that the services of men in the Royal Army Medical Corps and certain other corps are essential for the purpose of demobilisation, and men who are eligible for demobilisation are liable to be retained until they can be replaced or their services dispensed with.
§ Mr. THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give orders for the immediate release, on compassionate grounds, of Private Albert Cushnie, No. 29683, 51st Gordon Highlanders, Weybourne, Norfolk, seeing that 2251W he is the only child and sole support of his mother, who is ill and receiving treatment for a nervous breakdown, and of his step-father, who is a discharged soldier, having served in the present War and been discharged on grounds of total disablement, and being now in hospital suffering from tuberculosis as a result of injuries received in the Dardanelles; and whether, as his father's health is in a very precarious state, he will take steps to hasten the arrangements for Private Cushnie's release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made in this case, and my hon. Friend will be informed of the result as early as possible.
§ Captain W. BENNasked the Secretary of State for War whether Driver J. Greenan, No. 392860, Royal Army Service Corps, forty-four years of age, is entitled to demobilisation; and, if so, whether he is likely to be demobilised?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Driver Greenan's age is as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend, he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Mr. HAYDAYasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the cause of the delay in arranging for the demobilisation of Corporal Albert E. Hines, No. 20726, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, Prisoner of War Staff, Lark Hill, Salisbury Plain; whether he is aware that this man is fifty years of age and re-enlisted on 9th September, 1914, was invalided from overseas in 1917 after two years in India, had previously gained the Burmah medal and clasp, 1889–92, the Chitral medal and clasp, 1895, also the two South African medals and seven clasps, and if he will arrange for the early demobilisation of this man?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries will be made into this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. CAIRNSasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private J. Grey, No. M/377129, Canadian Corps Troops, Mechanical Transport Company, France, joined the Tyneside 18th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, in 1914; and, if so, will he state the reason why this man has not been demobilized?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Private Grey's service is as stated by my hon. Friend he2252W is eligible for demobilisation unless serving under pre-war conditions and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will no doubt be demobilised as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Sir ALFRED YEOasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private W. J. Jennings, No. 11205, 1st Honourable Artillery Company, attested voluntarily in 1915, but on his employer's appeal to the tribunal was not allowed to join until July, 1917; that this man is thirty-four years of age, has a delicate wife, and a family of five boys under twelve years of age; that from the beginning of the War he acted as a special constable; and whether, considering that this man is a pivotal man and has been applied for by his employer on that ground, be will take into consideration his home conditions and release him on compassionate grounds?
Captain GUESTInquiries are being; made as to whether or not this is a case for compassionate release, and my hon. Friend will be informed of the result as early as possible.