§ Mr. INSKIPasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private W. J. Blackley, No. 41295, 12th Royal Scots, who was taken prisoner on 3rd May, 1917, in France, was informed on his return to this country by the com- 2525W manding officer of Glencorse Camp, Edinburgh, that if he was willing to relinquish the furlough which was due to him and filled in a form and returned his railway warrant he would be demobilised at once; and whether it is with his sanction that the promise given to Private Blackley, who complied with the specified conditions, has been broken?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries will be made, and I will inform my hon. and learned Friend of the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. ROSEasked the Secretary of State for War if he will order the demobilisation of Sergeant William Sievewright, No. 658639, now attached to the Chinese Labour Corps, who has been in France since August, 1914, is time expired, has a situation open to him, and is in every way entitled to demobilisation according to Regulations?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made into this case, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result as soon as possible.
Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for War whether men serving far from home who have had no leave will have special preference in demobilisation; and whether the one-man business men are still allowed special consideration on account of the great loss they have suffered?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLDispersal drafts are made up in accordance with the instructions in force as to priority, which provide, that a certain proportion of each draft will include men who have had long service overseas. As I stated in the House last Tuesday, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Frome, large drafts have been placed under orders for Egypt and Constantinople. These will relieve a corresponding number of personnel who have served long periods in these theatres without leave. As regards Mesopotamia and India, no drafts can be sent to those places until climatic conditions permit. With regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's question, it is regretted that special treatment cannot be accorded to the proprietors of one-man businesses. Their demobilisation is dependent on whether or not they are eligible under Army Order 55 of 1919.
§ Mr. SPOORasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received an application for the discharge on com- 2526W passionate grounds of Private Charles Thomas, No. 66455, 6th Northumberland Fusiliers, who was repatriated after spending some months seriously ill in German hospitals, after being gassed, and who since his return to this country has been seriously ill, and is certified by medical authorities as being unfit for further military duty of any kind; and whether, in view of these facts and of the private circumstances of Private Thomas, he will order his immediate discharge?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Thomas is not registered for special release, nor is there any trace of an application on compassionate grounds having been received by the War Office. If, however, he is eligible for demobilisation under existing Regulations he will be released as soon as circumstances permit. The question of his health is one for the medical authorities to deal with, and the private circumstances referred to by my hon. Friend are not known to the War Office.
§ Major O'NEILLasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private John Lorimer, No. 41343, 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers, was used as a ploughman in France after the Armistice; whether his demobilisation was sanctioned on 5th February last; whether he was asked to remain for a few days after this date until a suitable substitute could be obtained to do his work; whether he was then told that he would be finally demobilised on 12th February; whether subsequently new Regulations were issued which prevented his demobilisation; and whether, if the above facts are substantially accurate and considering that Private Lorimer enlisted voluntarily, he will take steps to secure this soldier's early release from the Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Lorimer is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, nor is there trace of any application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. I am not aware of his demobilisation having been sanctioned as stated, and no orders to that effect have been issued by the War Office. If he is demobilisable under current instructions he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Sir PETER GRIGGSasked the Secretary of State for War if Lance-Corporal E. Johnson, No. 10467, Military Foot Police, 2527W Army Post Office S. 10, British Expeditionary Force, Prance, who enlisted in 1915 under the Derby scheme, and was called up in 1916, age forty-one, can now be released, in view of his employers badly wanting him and having applied for him in November, 1918, and getting no satisfaction?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLLance-Corporal Johnson is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, nor is there trace of any application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If this soldier'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.
§ Mr. INSKIPasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Sapper C. Perryman, No. 494724, 61st Division, 479th Field Company, Royal Engineers, who enlisted in July, 1915; what are the reasons for his retention in spite of the Regulations; and whether the fact that his former employers require his services as cutter in order to make suits for discharged soldiers will be treated as an additional reason for his immediate discharge?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSapper Perryman is not registered either as pivotal, demobiliser, or for special release, nor is there trace of any application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. If his date of enlistment is as stated by my hon. Friend he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, he will no doubt be released in due course. With regard to the last part of the question, the fact that he has a situation open for him does not entitle him to immediate release, but gives him a certain priority if he is eligible for demobilisation and has been applied for by his employers.
§ Mr. F. C. THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in respect that Corporal R. Shepherd, No. 307108, Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorials), 31st C.C.S., B.S.F., joined up on 25th May, 1915, was sent to Salonika early in 1917, is still retained with the Salonika forces, never having had any leave, and that he has had two brothers killed in 2528W this War and one so seriously wounded as to necessitate his being put on home service, instructions can now be given for his demobilisation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Corporal Shepherd's date of enlistment 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. If, however, the hon. Member will submit a statement, giving full particulars of this case and showing this soldier's dependants, vouched for by himself, a clergyman, justice of peace, or a doctor, it will receive consideration.
§ Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Company Sergeant-Major J. Forbes, M.M., No. 269263, No. 6 Light Railway Operating Company, British Expeditionary Force, France, has not yet been released; that this man enlisted in January, 1915, has four children and a wife dependent on him, and work awaiting him; and whether, in view of the fact that Company Sergeant-Major Forbes belongs to Group 34, to which, according to British Expeditionary Force General Routine Order No. 6,486, of 18th March, preference in demobilisation should be given, he will take steps to have this man released without further delay?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMy hon. and gallant Friend has not quoted this General Routine Order quite accurately. The portion of General Routine Order 6,486 referred to was to the effect that in selecting personnel for dispersal under paragraph 4 (c) (vi.) of General Routine Order 6,179, preference should be given as far as possible to personnel belonging to the group referred to. Men sent for dispersal under paragraph 4 (c) (vi.) could in any case form only a very small proportion of each draft. If, however, Company Sergeant-Major Forbes' service is as stated he will no doubt be demobilised in due course.
§ Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now give a decision in regard to the release, on compassionate grounds, of Private Thomas Mack, No. S.29,703, 53rd Gordon Highlanders?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThis case was personally investigated by the Officer Commanding, 53rd Battalion, Gordon High- 2529W landers, and it was found that Private Mack had an offer of employment at £1 16s. 9d. a week. He is aged eighteen years seven months, and it was pointed out to him that he was now drawing £1 1s. a week from the Army and being clothed, housed, and fed, and that if he were to send 10s. or 15s. a week to his parents he would be doing them more good than by returning to his home. He was making an allotment of 3s. 6d. per week (which is made up to 12s. per week in accordance with Dependants' Allowance Regulations); and he further promised to increase his own allotment by 10s. a week. This would give his parents an allowance of £1 2s. per week, which is more than the lad could allow at home, paying for his clothing, board, and lodgings, and it is therefore not proposed to release him on compassionate grounds.
§ Mr. F. C. THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give instructions for the demobilisation of Private Arthur Paterson, No. 307085, Port Sanitary Section, care of Base Commandant, Batum, Russia, who joined up in May, 1915, was sent to Salonika in March, 1917, and who there contracted malignant malaria and dysentery, which caused him to be put from Class 1 A to Class 2 B, and who was sent from Salonika to Batum on 12th February, 1919, never having had leave since leaving this country?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Paterson is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If, however, his date of enlistment 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. With regard to this soldier's health, the medical authorities concerned are the judges as to his fitness to serve abroad, and I am afraid I cannot give any special instructions for his immediate release on this ground.
§ Mr. HOPKINSasked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to secure the early demobilisation of Sergeant E. C. Keeley, No. M2/031866, 281 G.B.A.O., attached Royal Garrison Artillery, who volunteered for the duration of the War only in December, 1914, and whose educational and business prospects are being ruined by his retention?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Sergeant Keeley's service is as stated, he will no doubt be demobilised in due course.