§ Mr. WATERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can release at once Driver A. O. Hughes, No. 370155, Army Service Corps, British Expeditionary Force, France; and, seeing that all steps necessary to secure his release have been taken, and that he is thirty-eight years of age, and that his firm of employers, of which he was the dairy foreman, with a wide experience, deals with nearly 1,000 gallons of milk a day, and in a 344W few weeks will be increased, will he guarantee to at once release him, on public service grounds, as his employers cannot secure a suitable substitute?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are already being made in this case. I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Secretary of State for War why Gunner E. Halsey, No. 33453, Royal Field Artillery, A Battery, C Section, 79th Brigade, 17th Division, British Expeditionary Force, France, is not demobilised; and is there ground for believing that his promise that men entitled to discharge would be discharged by the end of April will be kept?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that Gunner Halsey is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release, if he is eligible for demobilisation under current instructions he will be released as soon as circumstances permit. With regard to the latter part of the question the major portion of men who are eligible have already been demobilised, as will be seen by the folowing figures showing the numbers demobilised between November 11th, 1918, and April 30th, 1919:—
Officers, 86,763.
Other ranks, 2,497,460.
The remainder are being released as fast as circumstances permit.
§ Mr. HURDasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private E. R. Bearup, No. 241762, 4th Guard, 4th Company, 3rd Scottish Rifles, Georgetown, Paisley, aged thirty-five, and of low category, is eligible for release from the Army on extreme compassionate grounds, seeing that his wife died recently leaving a motherless child?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries will be made into this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Mr. WATERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Corporal G. Andrews, No. 43216, Royal Engineer Detachment, 133rd Company, Chinese Labour Corps, 3rd Army, Rifle Training School, Ault, British Expeditionary Force, France, is retained in the Army; whether, seeing that the man joined up in August, 1914, he will state why he is being retained and when he may expect his release; and whether it is the 345W desire to keep these men away from employment in civil life, which now awaits many, so as to become a national burden?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLCorporal Andrews is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If this non-commissioned officer's length of service is as stated he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions, and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as his services can be spared or he can be replaced. With regard to the last part of the question, men are being demobilised as speedily as possible, as will be seen by the figures which have already been published. A certain priority is given to men with employment waiting for them, if they are eligible under current instructions.
Brigadier-General PALMERasked the Secretary of State for War why Bombardier K. Grieve, No. 284034, 22nd Anti-Aircraft Company, Royal Garrison Artillery, Billingham Gun Station, Stockton-on-Tees, aged fifty, an old Regular soldier of twenty-one years' service with a pension, who re-enlisted on 21st September, 1914, is not, after frequent applications demobilised?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that orders have already been issued for the demobilisation of this bombardier.
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of G. M. Gander, No. M/2, 136589, 5th Canadian Siege Battery, Ammunition Column, 4th Division, M.T.R., Army Service Corps, British Expeditionary Force, France, who is being retained in the Army although he joined up in 1915; if he is aware that three communications have been addressed to his commanding officer on the subject, to which no reply has been received; and whether he will inquire into the reason of this and give instructions for the man's immediate release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are already being made, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that M/2 192226, Private S. J. Baker, Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps, c/o Maps, General Headquarters, British Expeditionary Force, France, is still being retained in the Army although 346W he was recommended for demobilisation by the local advisory committee of the Ministry of Labour at Basingstoke before 1st February, 1919; and why Private Baker has not yet been released?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInstructions were issued some time ago for Private Baker's release. Inquiries are being made into the cause of the delay, and I will inform my Noble and gallant Friend of the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. HARRY HOPEasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Gunner John Pryde, No. 227153, 336th Brigade, C Battery, Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, who as a one-man business man is urgently required at home; and if his release can now be granted?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that Gunner Pryde is not registered at the War Office as pivotal or for special release. If he is eligible for demobilisation under current instructions he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Mr. HARRY HOPEasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Private John Hill, No. 57,276, No. 3 Company, transport, 12th battalion, North Staffordshire, at present in hospital, who attested under the Derby scheme in November, 1915, and is urgently required to manage and work the farm carried on by his mother in Stirlingshire; and whether, as he would be doing urgent national work in that way, and would get a chance of recovering his broken health, he will now order him his release from military labour work?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are already being made in this case. I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Mr. RAMSDENasked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the case of Private Stephen Walker, No. 38,286, 3rd Lincoln Regiment, whose application was put forward on the fact that both his parents, of whom he was the support, have broken down in health, that the mother, whose medical certificates have been adduced to show, suffers from valvular disease of the heart, while the father has been compelled to become an invalid for many months?
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§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries will be made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for War whether Sergent J. R. M'Farlane, M.M., No. 41768, 9th Battalion, Scottish Rifles, 561, Springburn Road, Glasgow, should be demobilised on compassionate grounds in respect that he attested under the Derby scheme in 1915, was exempted on the ground of hardship till 10th June, 1916, that he is the owner of a one-man business wherein he employs several persons, and that the said business is on the point of being destroyed owing to his prolonged absence?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSergeant M'Farlane is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, nor is there any trace of any application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. I would point out that business grounds solely do not warrant compassionate demobilisation. If, however, my hon. Friend will obtain a statement giving full particulars of the case, vouched for by himself, a clergyman, a justice of the peace, or a doctor, it will be considered. The statement should include particulars of dependants.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private Walter Halley, No. 58183, B Company, T. W. B., 17th East Yorks Regiment, Whitburn, Sunderland, and 57, Laverockall Street, Springburn, Glasgow, can be demobilised on compassionate grounds in respect that his wife is in delicate health, and has four young children aged from three years to seven years, and has recently lost a fifth child, and that through physical weakness she is unable to look after her children; that his employers desire his release, otherwise they will have to fill up his situation; and that he was wounded in France two years ago so severely that he could not be sent back and is not now of any real service in the Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are already being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for War whether the application for demobilisation of Corporal R. Y. Gilmour, No. M/2, 120511, M.A.C., Army Service Corps, should be granted on compassionate grounds in respect that, although he joined up on 3rd September, 348W 1915, and is eligible for demobilisation, he is retained as machinery of demobilisation; he is sole proprietor of the Springburn Steam Laundry Company, Keppochhill Road, Glasgow, wherein all his capital is sunk, and upon which he is entirely dependent for his livelihood; when he joined the Army he got an elder brother to supervise the said laundry business, but the latter has now broken down in health and is unable to manage the business, which will have to be shut down, involving ruinous loss to Corporal Gilmour, and throwing out of employment about forty men; and, in addition to his laundry business, Corporal Gilmour managed his father's properties in Motherwell, and on his joining up his father essayed to resume the management thereof, but being seventy-five years of age is unable to overtake the same, and his affairs are falling into confusion?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLCorporal Gilmour is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If he joined for continuous service prior to 1st January, 1916, he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service, and his term of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as circumstances permit. I regret that business grounds solely do not warrant a man being demobilised on compassionate grounds. If, however, my hon. Friend will obtain a statement giving the full facts of the case, vouched for by himself, a doctor, a justice of the peace, or a clergyman, it will be reconsidered. The statement should include particulars of dependants.
§ Captain BOWYERasked the Secretary of State for War if he will take steps to secure the early demobilisation of Corporal H. Crosby, No. P. 5215, M.M.P., who is at present serving under the Assistant Provost-Marshal, Havre, in view of the fact that this man enlisted on the 7th September, 1914, in the 3rd King's Own Hussars, was compulsorily transferred to the M.M.P. on 31st May, 1915, is being retained by the military authorities, and is now urgently required by his family?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLCorporal Crosby is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If this non-commissioned officer's length of service is as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and his term of Colour service is 349W not completed. I would refer to the answer I gave on the 8th April to the hon. and gallant Member for Fylde to the effect that personnel of the Corps of Military Police are liable to retention as part of the military machinery of demobilisation. Such men, however, are being released as soon as their services can be spared or they can be replaced.
§ Mr. GWYNNEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will sanction the release from the Army of Corporal Tappenden, No. 21225, 306th Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, British Expeditionary Force, France, and Lance-Corporal R. V. Herriott, No. 21747, 309th Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, British Expeditionary Force, France, both brick makers, required for re-employment by Mr. T. Gurr, brickmaker, of Polegate, Sussex, in view of the urgent necessity of having all the skilled labour possible to remedy the present shortage of houses?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries will be made in these cases, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Mr. THOMAS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for War why Private A. W. Grimes, No. 034539, of No. 23 Ordnance Department, Army Ordnance Corps, is not demobilised, seeing he is forty-three years of age?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Private Grime's ago is as stated by my hon. Friend he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation. If so, he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Mr. T. DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for War why Private Thomas Palmer, No. 8762, 18th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, is not discharged from the Army, seeing he enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps on 29th August, 1914, was discharged on 13th March, 1915, again enlisted on 28th December, 1915, starting work at Grantham on that date?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Palmer is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his length of service is as stated by my hon. Friend, he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation. If so, he will no doubt be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
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§ Mr. DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for War why Corporal W. F. Eltome, No. 04730, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, A.P.O. S. 24, is not discharged from the Army, seeing that he is aged forty-one and enlisted on the 12th February, 1915?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Corporal Eltome's age and length of service are as stated by my hon. Friend, he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation. If so, he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.