§ Mr. PROTHEROasked the Secretary of State for War whether the exigencies of the Service require that boys, who, having voluntarily enlisted in the Army, were sent abroad before they were nineteen years of age, and have since returned from the front invalided, wounded, or claimed as under age by their parents, should be sent abroad for the second time the moment they have reached the age of nineteen, or whether such boys, after attaining the age of nineteen, may be allowed, if they so wish, to do a period of Home Service corresponding to the length of time that they served abroad when under that age, having regard to the fact that, under the Military Service Act of 1916, boys are protected from being sent abroad until they have attained the age of nineteen years?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am afraid that the rule that soldiers may be sent abroad at the age of nineteen years must be applied without discrimination, and I fear that I cannot adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.