§ Mr. GOULDasked the Secretary of State for War if he has yet reviewed the application for the release of Guardsman F. Burland, No. 22650, 2nd Battalion Cold stream Guards; if he is aware that his employers, a railway company, have endeavoured to secure his release; and whether, seeing that he is the only surviving son and main support of an invalid father and an old mother, their two other sons having been killed in France, he will take steps to release this man on compassionate grounds at an early date?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that instructions have been issued for the demobilisation of Private Burland.
§ Mr. WASONasked the Secretary of State for War if he will give every consideration to the representation for release from the Army on compassionate grounds of Corporal J. R. Cray, No. 253320, Royal Engineers, Signals; why no reply has been sent to urgent representations already made; if he is aware that this soldier expects to be sent to Russia shortly; and to what part of Russia it is proposed to send him?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf my hon. Friend will furnish me with a statement giving full particulars, and the grounds on which the claim is made, or obtain a similar statement vouched by a magistrate, doctor or clergyman, the case will be considered. As regards the latter part of the question, any soldier who is not eligible for demobilisation is liable, to serve in any of the Armies of Occupation unless he is under twenty years of age. There is no trace of any application having been received by the War Office in respect of Corporal Cray, and I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will let me have details of the representations to which he refers.
§ Major NEWTONasked the Secretary of State for War if he will expedite the demobilisation of Private S. G. Saint, No. 80241, No. 3 Troop, B Squadron, 5th Dragoon Guards, who was sent to France in 1914 with the Essex Yeomanry, and has therefore served through the whole of the War, and whose employers, a firm of electrical and mechanical engineers, applied for his release on 6th January, 1919?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Saint is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release, and from the information given by my hon. and 1487W gallant Friend it would appear that the application made by his employers was the usual "contract" offer of employment or was such as to obtain his registration as a "slip" man. Neither "contract" nor "slip" men are entitled to early demobilisation, but they are registered and if eligible they receive a certain priority of release. Private Saint would appear to be eligible for demobilisation on account of his length of service and, if so, will no doubt be released in due course.
§ Captain ALBERT SMITHasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private P. Murphy, No. 63121, 6th G.N. Battalion, D Company, Royal Welsh Fusiliers; whether he is aware that this man has seen sixteen months' active service in Palestine; that he was wounded, and was afterwards sent down the line suffering from chronic bronchitis; that he still suffers from this complaint and is classified B 2, and has been sent forward to rejoin his unit in Bulgaria; that in consequence of his condition he has been excused guard duty, but is regularly employed on sanitary work unsuitable for a man in his condition of health; that one brother was killed at Suvla Bay and another crippled in France; that the soldier himself has a wife and three children and other dependants to maintain; and whether he will order this man's return home and demobilisation on compassionate grounds?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with full particulars of the other dependants Private Murphy is stated to maintain and also the ages of the children, or obtain a similar statement vouched by a magistrate, doctor or minister of religion, the case will be considered.