HC Deb 22 December 1916 vol 88 c1833W
Mr. JOWETT

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private A. I. Goldberg, No. 46962, 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment, a conscientious objector, was court-martialled at Cleethorpes on 12th December, 1916, and sentenced to six months' hard labour on 14th December, 1916; whether he is aware that this man's colonel on 15th December ordered him to dig trenches, which order the man declined to obey, with the result that on 15th December the colonel imposed the sentence of twenty-one days' bread and water; and whether he will inform the House of Commons under what powers this procedure was adopted by the colonel and under what regulation is it possible to sentence a man to twenty-one days' bread and water at all, and/or after sentence by court-martial?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Inquiries are being made, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result in due course.