§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Secretary of State for War how many members of the British Forces are at present reported as missing; and whether steps are still being taken to trace them?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLA figure of 64,800 has been given, in answer to recent questions, as the number of "missing" whose fate remains to be determined. It is an approximate figure only, and as evidence of death is received or death is presumed on lapse of time or in the absence of news, the number tends to diminish steadily, but no great change has taken place so far. As regards the last part of the question, it should be remembered that the "missing" have fallen on the field of battle without their fate becoming known to either side, and such information can be best ascertained from the evidence furnished by their surviving comrades and by a search of the site. During the War the wounded were examined in hospital by the Red Cross Society, and since the cessation of hostilities released prisoners are being examined. Much information has been obtained by these methods, though not all of it is conclusive. The battlefields have always been searched as far as possible, and a systematic search is being undertaken by the units of the Director-General of Graves Registration and Inquiries, now that the whole area is open.
§ Major CHRISTOPHER LOWTHERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is able to give any information as to the whereabouts of Major Samuel Rigg, 5th Border Regiment, who was reported wounded and missing on 25th March, 1918, at Biache, near Peronne, and is believed to be still interned in one of the islands in the Baltic; and whether inquiries as to missing officers and men are still being conducted in Germany?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI regret that I have no further information regarding this officer, who must have died shortly after being wounded. There is no reason to suppose that Major Rigg ever reached 1937W Germany as a prisoner of war. Should any information come to light from any source the next-of-kin would be informed at once. As far as I am aware, there is no foundation for the suggestion that prisoners of war have been sent to secret camps in Baltic islands or elsewhere.