§ 111. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Secretary of State for War what is the occupation of 14116201 Private P. Pritchard 38, P.T.C., Seighford Camp, Stafford; on what date he was arrested; the date he was tried; the sentence given and the crime; the number who made up the court and their ranks; who stated the man's case; and were his special circumstances considered.
§ Mr. BellengerAccording to Army records Private Pritchard was a haulage hand in a colliery before his enlistment. He was arrested by the civil power on loth December, 1946, and handed to the military authorities on 12th December, 1946. He was tried by District Court Martial on 4th January, 1947, on one charge of desertion from 17th October, 1946, until his apprehension on 10th December, 1946, and one charge of losing by neglect his clothing and necessaries to the value of £12 12s. 11d. He was sentenced to six months' detention and stoppages of pay. The court consisted of three officers, with a major as president and a captain and a subaltern as members. Private Pritchard was defended by Lieut. M. J. Apperley, South Staffordshire Regiment, who referred in his address to the special circumstances of the case which, he said, had so distressed the accused that he absented himself. Private Pritchard's sentence has now been suspended to give him an opportunity of dealing with his private affairs and becoming a good soldier.
§ 127. Mr. Wilkesasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now state the result of his inquiries into the case of 14574803 Rifleman Pentland, 2nd K.R.R.C., M.E.L.F., application for whose temporary compassionate release in order to help his invalid father in his coal distribution business was made by the hon. Member for Newcastle, Central, on 17th December, 1946, and 15th January, 1947.
§ Mr. BellengerMy hon. Friend will probably by now have received a letter explaining that a decision could not yet be given.