§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the bodies of four men belonging to the Royal Navy who served in the armed merchant cruiser "Viknor," wrecked off the coast of Ireland, have been buried in a pauper's grave at Larne at the expense of the ratepayers; whether these men's lives were lost in the service of the country; and, if so, whether he will take steps to ensure that proper respect is in future paid to the remains of men of the Royal Navy killed during the present War?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt would appear that, owing to a regrettable misunderstanding, arrangements were not made by any local naval authorities for the funeral of certain men whose bodies were washed ashore from His Majesty's ship "Viknor," and that the burials were undertaken by the Poor Law guardians. This fact was communicated to me by the lion, and gallant Member for Antrim (East) on the 1st instant and immediate instructions were issued that in the case of the recovery of any further bodies arrangements for the funeral should be made in accordance with the King's Regulations. Further, the guardians were at once informed that the cost of the burials which had already taken place would be refunded on application to the Admiralty.