§ Mr. N. M'LEANasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the corpse of Private F. Morris, who enlisted as Jones, No. 28360, 1st Royal Scots, and had twenty-four years' continuous service, including three years and four months in the present War in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Dardannelles, was sent to his widow in Glasgow in a plain unvarnished box and packed in sawdust; that the widow had to pay 4s. 6d. to Maryhill for a firing party; what steps does he propose to take to prevent similar occurrences; and whether the cost of the firing party will be refunded to the widow and suitable compensation paid?
Captain GUESTThis case had previously been brought to notice, but the investigations are not yet complete. It has, however, been ascertained that the body was laid out by the hospital orderlies and placed in the coffin by the undertaker. A Court of Inquiry has been held, and the arrangements made were fully gone into. The undertaker gave evidence, and the Court were satisfied that he carried out the terms of his contract in the provision of the coffin and that it was properly and decently furnished. The layer of sawdust was according to instructions given to the undertaker, and the shroud supplied was of the form in common use in the South of England. Nothing is known of the alleged charge of 4s. 6d. for the firing party, but inquiries are being made into this point.