§ Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that names of certain British officers were reported to parents as killed in action in North Russia, and that the first intimation they received that these officers were murdered by the Bolshevists was from the public Press; and whether he will take steps to see that if any further tragedies of this kind occur the next-of-kin will be immediately informed by letter from the War Office?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe telegraphic notification of casualties received from the Base reported the officers as "Killed in action," and "Died of wounds," and gave no indication that these cases were other than ordinary battle casualties. The telegrams referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend were accordingly at once sent to the relatives, who would certainly, I think, have complained if this had not been done. Details in such cases cannot be received until some time afterwards. I hope that no further tragedies of this kind will occur, but should they do so an endeavour will be made to send the next-of-kin, as soon as possible, any details received officially, but this will almost certainly be some time later than the first telegraphic notification.