HC Deb 30 November 1916 vol 88 c500W
Mr. BILLING

asked whether men suffering from single and double rupture have been passed for service; whether men unable to read or write have been drafted for service with the Artillery; and, if so, whether it is with the approval of the War Office?

Mr. FORSTER

The answer to the first part of the question is that men with hernia are only passed for general service if the disability is slight and proper safeguards are adopted I am not aware that men unable to read or write have been drafted for service with the Artillery, but I must not be taken as holding that illiterate men could not perform very useful service at the front in handling ammunition for Artillery.