§ Mr. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. Horace J. Batteson, age thirty-eight, classed B 2 on account of defective sight and deafness, an electrical engineer duly qualified for X-ray administration 1152W and so certified has, in breach of a distinct promise that he should be posted to the Royal Army Medical Corps for X-ray work, been posted to a labour battalion for overseas road making and other works; whether he is aware that Mr. Batteson has since February been engaged on the operation of X-ray apparatus at the Westminster hospital; that his father is a medical man of standing as also are two brothers, one a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps at Malta; whether he will inquire into the conduct of the recruiting officer at the White City who insisted upon posting Mr. Batteson to a labour battalion though informed of his acceptance for the Royal Army Medical Corps, as well as that of the captain in charge of the battalion who though informed of the order for transfer declined to act upon it, and caused Mr. Batteson to be hurried overseas the day after medical classification though there were some 100 men available to fill up any vacancies in the draft; and will he take steps to prevent a repetition of such conduct whereby service in the Army is rendered unnecessarily harsh and burdensome?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis man presented himself for direct enlistment on 31st May, 1917, and was placed in Class C 2. I understand that he was asked about his trade, as his statement that he was an X-ray operator did not agree with his registration card. He then stated that he was an attendant only. Nothing is known of his having presented any letter of acceptance for the R.A.M.C. at the time of his enlistment, and he was posted to a labour battalion in the ordinary course. I am, however, making further inquiries, and will let my hon. Friend know the result.