HC Deb 22 December 1916 vol 88 cc1833-5W
Mr. MORRELL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will make inquiries with regard to W. Pilling, of No. 50, Pritchard Street, Burnley, who recently enlisted in the Army when only 15 years of age; and, in particular, if he will ascertain whether this lad was recently stationed at Park Hall Camp, Oswestry, D company, hut 16; whether the lad's father communicated with the commanding officer of this camp and was informed by him that the lad was now overseas but that he would endeavour to get him recalled; and whether, if the facts are found to be as stated, the lad will be immediately discharged?

Mr. MACPHERSON

If the hon. Member will supply details of the unit and regimental number I will have inquiries made.

Mr. DEVLIN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) if he will explain why the military authorities refused the demand of the parents of Private Robert Dunbar, No. 10440, 2/4th Royal Scots Fusiliers, who was born on 31st July, 1900, and is not yet seventeen years of age; whether he will inquire into this case with a view to ordering the boy's discharge; (2) whether he is aware that Private John M'Keever, No. 4/6535, 4th Battalion Con-naught Rangers, who enlisted at Belfast on the 7th August last, was born on 22nd February, 1900, and is therefore not yet seventeen years of age, and that, when his father made application for his discharge, he was informed by the Infantry Record Office, No. 12 District, Cork, that the boy would not be discharged but would be held to serve at home until he was nineteen, and would not be sent for service overseas until then; whether there is any authority for the retention of this boy, and, if so, what is it; whether he will have this case inquired into with a view to the boy's discharge; and (3) if he will explain why the military authorities refused the application of his parents for discharge from the Army of Private P. M'Closke, No. 24308, 1st Troop, A Squadron, 5th Lancers, who was born on the 10th March, 1900, and is therefore only in his seventeenth year; and whether he will inquire into this case with a view to this boy's discharge from the Army?

Mr. MACPHERSON

If the facts are as stated, I would point out that under present regulations an under-age soldier is not discharged, but posted to a Home service unit. If he is under seventeen years of age, he is given the option of enrolling as an Army Reserve munition worker.

Mr. LUNDON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has yet come to a decision as to the release of Private Maurice M'Dontnell, of the Irish Guards, stationed at Caterham, on the grounds that he is only sixteen years of age?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Orders were issued on 1st December for this man to be posted to a Home service unit on verification of his age by birth certificate. He will then be given the option of enrolling as an Army Reserve munition worker.

Mr. GINNELL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the date upon which Private F. Pearson, No. 276, 8th Company, 3rd Battalion West Yorks Regiment, when under military age, was sent to France; the date upon which he was wounded in action there; why his mother's application of 22nd June last for his transfer to the class of those under age was not acceded to; and will he explain why the military authorities sent this insufficiently trained youth into action, in view of the Statute and the Army Council instruction then in force and the repeated pledges of Ministers that youths under military age would be either sent home to their parents or reserved from action pending their attainment of military age?

Mr. MACPHERSON

This man joined the Expeditionary Force in France on 2nd March, 1916, and he was wounded early in July last. In regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for West Bradford on 21st November, and would add that the soldier declared his age as nineteen and a half on enlistment in February, 1915.