§ 110. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the deep concern felt by relatives of those men of the three Services who lost their lives in the recent military activities in Egypt and have been buried in Egypt; whether, as the casualties are smaller than was expected and the expenses involved will thereby be limited, he will arrange to have their bodies brought home at public expense and assist in arranging a civilian or military funeral for these Service men in accordance with the wishes of their relatives; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John HareYes. As the hon. Member has already been informed, it has been decided in the special circumstances that the bodies of soldiers and marines killed in Port Said will be brought62W back to the United Kingdom at public expense and the next-of-kin have already been informed. A Service funeral will be arranged at a naval or military cemetery near the point of arrival in the United Kingdom, but relatives have been asked whether they would prefer to make arrangements for a private funeral. In such cases, the coffins will be sent, at public expense, to the home of the next-of-kin.