§ Mr. WATERSONasked the Secretary of State for War if he can state what steps he is prepared to take to accelerate the release of Lance-Corporal Thomas Henry Green, 131st Field Company, Royal Engineers, Salonika; whether he is aware that the said soldier enlisted in 1915, that he is forty-five years of age, and has a wife and son who are not in the best of health; and will he, under such, circumstances, cable for his immediate release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Lance-Corporal Green's age and service are as stated by my hon. Friend he is eligible for demobilisation, and will be demobilised as soon as circumstances permit. I regret that the information supplied does not warrant special treatment being given.
§ Mr. WATERSONasked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to release Sapper Alfred Charles Tarpley, No. 164123, Royal Engineers, Motor Cycle Dispatch Rider, General Headquarters, Signal Company, Constanti- 2055W nople; is he aware he joined up the first day of the War, 1914; that he has only had twenty-one days' leave since; that his time expired December, 1917; that a letter sent to his wife from the War Office on 13th March was no reply to what was asked for; and will he state clearly to the House the steps already taken to hasten home from the East these warriors of four and five years' standing?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House on 25th February, with reference to the troops in the Eastern theatres.
§ Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Gunner Hugh B. Simple, No. 243293, C/245 Battery, Royal Field Artillery, British Expeditionary Force, is now under orders for Germany; and whether, in view of the fact that the Ministry of Food informed his father, who is his employer, on 29th January, that he had been passed for release as a pivotal man, and that the War Office stated on 3rd March that instructions for this man's release had already been sent to his unit, he will forthwith issue orders for his immediate demobilisation without any further delay.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInstructions were issued some time ago for Private Simple's demobilisation. Duplicate instructions have been sent to his unit to-day and a wire has also been sent requesting that his release may be expedited.
§ Mr. THOMAS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for War why the release of Private P. G. Goodman, No. 142556, No. 9 Company, Royal Army Medical Corps, Military Hospital, Edmonton, London, is not granted, seeing he was thirty-seven on 22nd August, 1918, and his wife is in bad health, as certified by a medical certificate forwarded with the wife's application for his release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Private Goodman's age is as stated by my hon. Friend he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, he will no doubt be released as soon as circumstances permit. I regret that the grounds put forward do not justify special consideration being shown, but if my hon. Friend will obtain a statement giving in detail the compassionate aspect of the case, vouched for2056W by himself, a clergyman, a justice of the peace, or a doctor, it shall receive consideration.
§ Captain ALBERT SMITHasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private Fred Hartley, No. 312178, F Company, Tank Corps, Hut 5, C Lines, Swanage; whether he is aware that this soldier is one of four brothers, all soldiers, one being in hospital disabled for life; that Private Hartley volunteered in February, 1915, but was rejected as medically unfit, and was called up in 1916, and sent to Felixstowe; that the medical authorities there asked him if he had been passed as fit by a railway porter or some unqualified person; that he was subsequently sent to France in a labour company, but a few days afterwards had to go into hospital and has done practically no service since his enlistment; whether he is aware that Private Hartley's employers are anxious for his return to civil work; and whether, in view of all these circumstances, he will order the release of this man, who is unfit for the Army and whose family have such an excellent record in the War?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made, and I will let my hon. and gallant Friend know the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. HARRY HOPEasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Second-Lieutenant John Kerr, 196th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, Salonika, who enlisted as a private in October, 1915, and who is now anxious to be demobilised for urgent business reasons; and if he can now be released?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLLieutenant Kerr is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, nor has any application regarding him been received by the War Office. If this officer's services are not required, he will be demobilised as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Mr. HOPEfurther asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private Alexander Munro, No. 488188, Labour Corps, No. 2 Company, Blairgowrie, Forfarshire, who was a medical student before joining up in October, 1916, and after service at Salonika was dangerously ill with malaria and unfit for military service, and is now transferred to labour work in Forfarshire; and whether, in view of the bad effect of 2057W present work on his permanent condition of health and the advantage of his qualifying as a doctor instead of merely doing labour work in this country, he will allow him to be released?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Munro is ineligible for demobilisation owing to the fact that he did not join for continuous service prior to 1st January, 1916. I regret I cannot accede to my hon. Friend's request to accord him special treatment. The question of his health is a matter for the medical officer of his unit to deal with.
§ Mr. WATERSONasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private A. G. Surridge, No. 288829, Royal Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport), 3rd Army Corps, was issued his papers on 25th February, 1919, at Woolwich, instructing him that he would be dispersed at Purfleet rifle-range station, and stating the name of his future employer; is he aware that he is still in the Army although thirty-nine years of age, and that employment is still open; and will he take immediate steps to grant him his release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.