§ Mr. INSKIPasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private A. J. Jones, No. 44520, D Company, 9th Battalion, Worcester Regiment, who joined His Majesty's Forces on 30th August, 1914, is entitled to immediate discharge; and, if he is not so entitled under the Regulations, whether, in view of the fact that Private A. J. Jones was wounded twice in France, and has since served in Mesopotamia for two years without leave, and afterwards in Russia, and that he is the only son and principal support of his mother, directions may now be given for his discharge?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the release of Private F. Newbold, No. 2643, 5th Northern Non-Combatant Corps, 1687W Avington Park, Winchester, as a pivotal man was recommended by the Ministry of Labour and ordered by the War Office on 20th January last, but has never been carried out; and whether he will take action in the matter?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAt the time referred to by the hon. Member, men of the Non-Combatant Corps were not eligible for demobilisation. Orders have now been issued for this man's demobilisation.
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Secretary of State for War why Lance-Corporal H. Fuller, No. 224251, 402nd Highland Field Company, Royal Engineers, West Runton, Yorks, has not been released, seeing that the papers for his discharge as a one-man business proprietor were endorsed by the Appointments Department, Ministry of Labour, Bristol, on the 2nd January, 1919; and whether, as he is the only wheelwright in an agricultural village, his discharge can be expedited?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLLance-Corporal Fuller is not registered by the War Office as pivotal or for special release. I am informed, however, by the Ministry of Labour that he is registered as a "slip" man. A man registered as such is not entitled to immediate demobilisation, but receives a certain priority if otherwise eligible for demobilisation. If Lance-Corporal Fuller is eligible under current instructions he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Mr. INSKIPasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give directions for the demobilisation of Second-Corporal H. C. Stone, No. O 2134, 117th Company, Army Ordnance Corps, who is over forty years of age; and whether this man is entitled to his discharge under the Regulations?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Corporal Stone's age is as stated he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and has not completed his term of Colour service. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as his services can be dispensed with or he can be replaced.
§ Mr. INSKIPasked the Secretary of State for War whether Bombardier R. L. Williams, No. 837086, C Battery, 307th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, now serving in France, after joining the Colours at the age of eighteen in the early part of 1688W 1915, is entitled to immediate discharge; whether he is aware that Bombardier Williams handed to his commanding officer on 16th January last the necessary papers required by the Regulations to secure his discharge; and why he has been retained while younger men of shorter military service have been discharged?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Bombardier Williams joined the Colours for continuous service in 1915 he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and has not completed his term of Colour service. It is not known what my hon. Friend means by "necessary papers," but he is not registered by the War Office as pivotal or for special release, and it would appear that he is probably a "slip" or "contract" man.
§ Mr. INSKIPasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Sergeant-Major Hibbs, No. T4/249131, Royal Army Service Corps, attached to 2/3 S.M. Field Ambulance, who has served continuously throughout the War from 4th August, 1914; whether he is aware of the fact that Sergeant-Major Hibbs' father is now mentally incapacitated and that his only other brother is serving in His Majesty's Forces; and whether Sergeant-Major Hibbs may now be granted his discharge either on compassionate grounds or under the Regulations for the purpose of supporting his mother?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that there is no trace of any application on compassionate grounds having been received by the War Office relating to Sergeant-Major Hibbs, and that he is not registered for special release. If my hon. Friend will obtain a statement giving full facts of the compassionate grounds on which the application is based, vouched for by himself, a clergyman, a justice of the peace, or a doctor, the case will be considered.
§ Mr. WASONasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make inquiries whether it is possible to release Signalman John Shearer, No. 376949, No. 4 Platoon, A Company 2/10th Royal Scots, North Expeditionary Force, from military service, in view of the fact that an application for his release has been made by the senatus of his university; that he has had no leave since he joined up in 1917; 1689W and that it is important that his educational career should not be further interrupted?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe release of this soldier is not possible until the port of Archangel is open, and then only if a relief is provided. Relief of such men is engaging the earnest attention of the War Office.
§ Mr. WASONasked the Secretary of State for War if he has now had further particulars sent him, as required, with reference to the demobilisation of Corporal John Croy, No. 25330, 4th Corps, Heavy Artillery, Royal Engineers, Signals, British Expeditionary Force, France, on compassionate grounds, as his mother has seriously suffered in health and his business is rapidly being ruined?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInstructions have now been issued for the demobilisation of Corporal John Croy as a compassionate case on domestic grounds.
§ Mr. ALFRED SHORTasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the cause for delay in the demobilisation of Sapper E. Barry, No. 172630, 7th Indian Division, Royal Engineers (Signal Company), who was enrolled by the Postmaster-General as an applicant for enlistment prior to 26th October, 1915, attested on 8th December, 1915, was called upon as a Reservist to rejoin the Colours on 3rd June, 1916, was released by the Postmaster-General by order of the directors of Army Signals, Home Defence, on 8th June, 1916, served two and a-half years on active service without home leave, serving through two campaigns in Mesopotamia and one in Palestine, and received on 8th February a certificate entitling him to demobilisation, duly approved by the Reading Labour Exchange and dated 18th January, which had been delayed and redirected from the base signal depot, and should have reached him, had he been in a less remote theatre of war, before 1st February, the date of the new Army Order?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSapper Barry is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal, demobiliser, or for special release. It would appear that the certificate referred to, which was approved by the Reading Labour Exchange, was probably the usual "contract" offer of employment, which, does not entitle a man to1690W immediate demobilisation, but entitles him to a certain priority of release if otherwise eligible. In view of the fact that he did not join the Colours for continuous service prior to 1st January, 1916, he is ineligible for demobilisation.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel Sir S. HOAREasked the Secretary of State for War when Private R. H. Fellows, No. 53547, will be demobilised, and what is the reason of the delay, in view of the promise of both himself and the Ministry of Labour to expedite his release.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLA wire was sent to General Headquarters, France, some time ago, inquiring as to the cause of the delay in sending Private Fellows, 2/4th Somerset Light Infantry, for dispersal, but no reply has yet been received. A wire has again been sent asking for an early report, and as soon as this is received I will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result.
§ Mr. WATERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Driver F. Brown, E 212315, 280th Company, Army Service Corps, British Expeditionary Force, France, joined the forces early in 1915, that he was forty-five years of age last October, and that employment is waiting for him; and, seeing he has a wife and six children dependent upon him, and that his wife's health is breaking down through being compelled to go out to work in order to provide for her children through Army allowances being insufficient, will he give immediate instructions for the man's demobilisation?
Captain GUESTIf Driver Brown's age is as stated he is eligible for demobilisation, and will be released as soon as he can be replaced or his services can be dispensed with.