HC Deb 27 July 1916 vol 84 cc1879-81W
Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSY

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that John M'Namara, clerk at Mr. O'Carroll's, drapers in Bray, was arrested at Mooney's, Parnell Street, Dublin, on the Wednesday after Easter, and that £9 10s., a watch, a girl's wristlet watch, and a gold medal were taken from him there by the soldiers; that he was detained at Wakefield Prison for six weeks and afterwards released and has not since got back either his money or any of the above articles; whether he is aware that he was leaving for home on his holidays and was bringing his father this money; can he say what steps he proposes to take to compensate him; and (2) whether he is aware that Thomas M'Namara, of Knocknaboula, Loughill West, county Limerick, a boy of about fifteen years of age, who was sent by his father to Dublin on the Friday before Easter to be educated there, was arrested on the Wednesday after Easter at Mooney's, Parnell Street, Dublin; whether he is aware that £3 10s. and a watch and chain were taken from him there by the soldiers; that he was taken to Richmond Barracks and kept there for four weeks, although he took no part in the rebellion, and that he was afterwards sent home; and whether, under the circumstances, he will take steps to see that he gets back his money, watch and chain, or its value?

Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that the military authorities in Sheffield have issued and posted on the hoardings a long list of persons alleged to be absentees under the Military Service Act; that this list appears to have been issued with little or no investigation into the accuracy or otherwise of these charges as affects individuals; whether he is aware that men have been posted as absentees who are now actually fighting in France, that other men have been so described who hold a badge and certificate from the Ministry of Munitions, and that the military authorities have since been obliged to cover up these posters; whether he will cause investigation to be made as to the circumstances in which such a poster was issued and who was responsible for it; what action he propoes to take in respect of the person or persons responsible; and (2) whether his attention has been called to the case of A. E. Gompertz, whose application on grounds of conscientious objection to participating in war was refused by the South Shields Local Tribunal but subsequently admitted by the Appeal Tribunal, who granted him exemption from combatant service and promised that his certificate would be forwarded to him; whether he is aware that this man, his certificate not coming to hand, was arrested as an absentee, handed over by the magistrate to a military escort, taken to Newcastle Barracks, placed in a combatant regiment, court-martialled, and sentenced to four months' imprisonment; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the facts of the case?

Mr. THOMAS

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a person named Henry Smith, of Derby, a member of a well-known Quaker family, was charged with being a deserter and, on the case being dismissed by the magistrates, it was referred to Quarter Sessions on the appeal of the military authorities, and Smith is being again summoned to the Colours, notwithstanding the fact that the appeal has not yet been heard; and whether this action on the part of the local military authorities is being taken with the sanction of the War Office?

Mr FORSTER

It has been necessary to obtain reports with reference to these matters. As soon as the reports have been received, the Under-Secretary of State will, with the permission of the hon. Members concerned, send them a statement regarding the cases in which they are respectively interested.