§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the claim of Mr. Arthur Samuel Hillcox, of 8, Chapel Street, Devonport, for a long service pension; whether he is aware that this soldier completed 20 years and 88 days of service, which only left him short of qualification by 277 days when he was demobilised, on 21st February, 1919: and whether, under these circumstances, the War Office will consider giving him the benefit of his long service in the shape of a pension, seeing that the man, through no fault of his own, having been wounded in action, could not complete his service and will otherwise be cast upon the unemployment roll?
82W
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSMr. Hillcox enlisted on 28th June, 1893, and was discharged free, at his own request, having served for 15 years and 276 days. He re-enlisted for the War and served for four years and 177 days, being demobilised at the end of the War in the ordinary course. It was not because of his wound that the failed to complete the period of service necessary to qualify for pension; he was not serving on a pensionable agreement at the time of his last discharge, and I regret that he is not eligible for any award.