§ Captain HACKINGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty upon what approximate date it will be possible to demobilise a sailor (A.B.) who is forty-one years of age, served in the Royal Naval Division in France, where he was wounded, classified as B 2, was transferred to the Navy for shore service only, and for the past six months has served on His Majesty's ship "Titania"?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs the man in question cannot be identified from the information given, and as priority of dis- 609W persal depends upon other factors not mentioned, it is not possible to give any date. If particulars sufficient to indentify the man are furnished, inquiry will be made. In any case, the man will be demobilised immediately he can be spared or a relief is available for him. Reliefs, however, are at present being allocated to relieve men on foreign stations in preference to men in home waters.
§ Mr. RAWLINSONasked the Secretary of State for. War whether he is aware that Private W. R. Wallis, No. S/ 294995, Royal Army Service Corps, headquarters, No. 1 area, a solicitor's managing clerk in the employment of Mr. Wortten, of Cambridge, was sent back to France early in April simply for the purpose of demobilisation; that the consent to his demobilisation arrived at Valenciennes before 20th April; that he is still being detained there by the officer in command on the sole ground that his release might cause dissatisfaction among those clerks whom it was not found possible to spare; and whether he will take immediate steps to insist on the demobilisation of this man who is doing no useful work abroad and is urgently needed for his business at home?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Wallis is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. I think my hon. Friend's statement that the consent to his demobilisation arrived at Valenciennes probably refers to a contract offer of employment or an offer to obtain his registration as a "slip" man. This does not entitle him to immediate demobilisation, but gives him a certain priority only. If this man is eligible for demobilisation under current Instructions, he will be released as soon as he can be replaced. I would also refer to the answer given yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Moss Side, regarding the appointment of senior officers to inspect registers of units with a view to ensuring that no officer or man is retained without good and sufficient cause.
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Lieutenant Stanley H. Cannon, C/172 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, 7th Division, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, has been compulsorily posted in the Army of Occupation; and whether, seeing that he was mobilised on the outbreak of war, with the Territorial Force, has been on continuous service since, and is a married 610W man whose civil career has been seriously prejudiced through his long absence, he will give instructions for him to be released as soon as possible?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLLieutenant Cannon is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If this officer's services are not required, he will be demobilised as soon as possible.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for War whether the application for demobilisation on compassionate grounds of Private Samuel Henderson, No. 438162, Mechanical Transport Corps, British Expeditionary Force, France, should be granted in respect that, having twice volunteered, he was, alter one rejection, sent to France in category B 2, his two elder brothers, John Henderson, No. 6709, 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, volunteered on 8th August, 1914, and was killed in action on l5th July, 1915, and Neil Henderson volunteered on 5th March, 1915, was wounded in July, 1916, and killed in action in January, 1917, and, being only youths, the allowances their parents receive are very small, and Mrs. Henderson, 9, Turner Street, Glasgow, their mother, is in delicate health and has a young family for whom the father, who has also broken down in health, is unable to provide, and Private Samuel Henderson desires to return to civil life to help to support the family?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are already being made, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel SPENDER CLAYasked the Secretary of State for War whether men who are entitled to demobilisation, under Army Order XIV., of 1919, are being detained in order to carry out repairs to harness previous to its sale to the Belgian Government; whether Private S. J. Venn, No. 014872, R Company, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Army Ordnance Department workshop, A.P.O. 4, British Expeditionary Force, France, is engaged in this work; and whether he is entitled to discharge, seeing that he is not required for the machinery of demobilisation, and enlisted in December, 1915?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would refer to the answer given yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Moss Side regarding the appointment of senior officers to inspect unit registers with a view to ensuring that no officer or man 611W is retained without good and sufficient cause. If Private Venn joined the Colours for continuous service in 1915 he is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and has not completed his term of Colour service. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Mr. HOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Gunner S. J. Murray, No. 950,466, Headquarters Staff, 235th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, 47th Division, British Expeditionary Force, France, joined up on the 4th September, 1914, and went to France in March, 1915, where he has been and still is; that he was employed by the London County Council, who applied for his release on Form Z 16 on the 27th December, 1918, which was accepted by the Ministry of Labour, 14, Grosvenor Road, S.W. 1; that he and five others are acting as cooks to four officers; and whether he will make inquiries as to why Murray has not been demobilised?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLGunner Murray is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. The application made on Form Z.16 was such as to obtain his registration as a "slip" man, which does not entitle him to immediate demobilisation, but gives him a certain priority. If his length of service is as stated by my hon. Friend, he is eligible for demobilisation unless serving under pre-war conditions, and his term of Colour service is not completed. If lie is eligible he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.
I would refer to the answer given yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Moss Side, regarding the appointment of senior officers to inspect the registers of units with a view to ensuring that no officers or soldiers are retained without good and sufficient cause.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for War whether Staff-sergeant R. Burr, 335th Company, Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, Sutherland Camp, Liverpool and 751, Springburn Road, Glasgow, should be released on compassionate grounds in respect that he has served since August, 1914, has a wife in delicate health, and ten young children, and has a job to go to?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLStaff-sergeant Burr is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, nor is there any trace of612W an application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. If my hon. Friend will obtain a statement giving the full facts of the case, vouched for by himself, a clergyman, justice of peace, or a doctor, it will be considered. The statement should give the ages of the children and include a doctor's certificate regarding the health of Sergeant Burr's wife.
§ Mr. HOODasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has made the promised inquiries with regard to Rifleman A. W. Mason, No. 345129, 6th London Regiment; whether he is in a position to say what the result of those inquiries are; and whether Mason can now be demobilised?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLRifleman Mason is not eligible for demobilisation as he did not join the Army until the 14th February, 1918, and his age is only nineteen years and six months. Inquiries as to the allegations made by Mason are not yet complete, but I hope to be in a position to write to my hon. Friend on the matter shortly.
§ Brigadier-General SURTEESasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of any reason why Corporal J. H. Hall, M. 2/221801, Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport, attached 284th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, British Expeditionary Force, France, should be held to serve, seeing that he joined the Army in 1914 and has been four years in France?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLCorporal Hall 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. 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 not completed. If he is eligible, he will be released as soon as circumstances permit. Personnel of the Royal Army Service Corps, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation. Such men, however, are being released as soon as their services can be spared or they can be replaced.
§ Mr. HARRY HOPEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, as a medical certificate has been given in favour of the need of Private Allan W. B. Wilkie, No. 20505, A.S.H., attached to the 5th Army 613W Roads Workshop, Lille, being released in order to look after his father, he will, on compassionate grounds, approve his demobilisation or leave?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere is no trace of any application on behalf of Private Wilkie having been received by the War Office, but if 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 receive consideration. If the case is not vouched by a doctor, a medical certificate should be submitted in addition.
§ Mr. JOHN JONESasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private Eldridge, No. 2154, No., 3 Southern Company, Non-Combatant Corps, attached to Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Tidworth; whether he is aware that this man has claimed to be demobilised on the ground that he is over thirty-seven years of age, and that a copy of his birth certificate showing that he was thirty-seven years of age on the 6th of February last has been supplied; that the officer commanding has stated in reply that according to the man's attestation paper he was only thirty-four years of age on the 19th July, 1916, and no other evidence of age can be accepted; and whether the officer commanding is justified in debarring a man from demobilisation because of the are shown on the attestation paper as distinct from the man's actual age according to his birth certificate?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries will be made in this ease, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War whether repeated requests have been received by the War Office from the authorities of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital for the release of a certain officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps to take up the duties of house surgeon at the hospital where the services of a surgeon are urgently needed; and whether the request has yet been complied with?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLApplication was made by the Secretary of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital for the release of an officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps who was twenty-four years of age and who had served for thirteen months. The Secretary was informed that, in view of614W his age and short service, no special orders for this officer's release could be issued. Appliction was then made, on 18th April, for the release of an officer of greater age and longer service. This officer was immediately recalled from France, and is at present on leave pending demobilisation.
§ Mr R. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War whether Sergeant O. A. Bettles, No. 240653, Mechanical Transport, Royal Army Service Corps, as to whom a communication from the War Office, dated the 10th of March, 1919, with reference O1,671/1919, A.G. 4f, stated that his name had been passed to the military authorities overseas for consideration as a special case, has yet left India for home; and, if not, whether, in view of the fact that Sergeant Bettles' father is in a critical condition of health, he will take steps to expedite the return of this soldier, who has served since the beginning of the War?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLA cable has been sent to India, asking for an urgent report in this case. I will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War for what reason S/Condr. E. S. Gilham, No. 06063, Army Ordance Corps, c/o D.A.D.O.S., Eastern Division, Army of the Rhine, a married man of thirty-nine, who was notified two months ago as eligible for demobilisation, and who has been for three years attached to the Guards Division, was not returned with that division to England as preliminary to demobilisation, but has been posted for duty with a division of the Army of Occupation, and how soon this soldier will obtain his discharge?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSub-Conductor Gilham is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his age is as stated by my hon. Friend 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 would refer to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Moss Side on the 1st inst. regarding the appointment of senior officers to inspect unit registers, with a view to ensuring that no officer or man who is eligible for demobilisation is retained without good and sufficient cause.
§ Mr. WASONasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has 615W been directed to the particulars in the case of William Sabiston Tait, of No. 3 Depot, Jubbalpore, India, in view of his continued ill-health and the urgent necessity for his services at home, and whether he will grant this man's release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf this man is eligible for demobilisation he will be demobilised as soon as circumstances permit. The question of his health is a matter for the medical authorities on the spot, and my hon. Friend may be assured that it will not be neglected.
§ Mr. WASONasked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of Private H. W. Leask, No. 64392, G Company, 3rd Yorkshire Regiment, Town Hall, West Hartlepool; and if he will inquire whether this is a case where demobilisation may be granted on the grounds that his father's health has completely broken down through endeavouring to carry on the business in the absence of his son, Private H. W. Leask?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are already being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. T. DAV1ESasked the Secretary of State for War when the release of Sapper James Arthur Tyrrell, No. 520134, 8 R. T. O., L Signal Battery, Royal Engineers, A. P. O. S. 39, France, may be expected, seeing that he joined the Colours in 1914?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Sapper Tyrrell's service is as stated he will no doubt be demobilised in due course unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and has not completed his term of Colour service.
§ Mr. DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for War when the release of Lance-Corporal F. Collis, P. 13234, M.F.P. c/o D.A.P.M. Mesopotamia, may be expected, seeing he joined up on 1st September, 1914?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf this non-commissioned officer's service is as stated he will be demobilised as soon as circumstances permit, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and has not completed his term of Colour service.
§ Sir ALBION RICHARDSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give instructions for the early release of Private A. J. Digby, No. 263,078, 1st Mons 616W Reserve Regiment, who was before the 1st February, 1919, recommended by the local advisory committee for release, but owing to his being detained in hospital since that time has not yet been released?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Digby is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. The recommendation referred to would appear to be either a contract offer of employment or such as to obtain his registration as a "slip" man. This would not entitle him to immediate demobilisation, but would give him a certain priority if he is otherwise eligible for demobilisation. If he is eligible for demobilisation he will no doubt be released in due course.
Captain BROWNasked the Secretary of State for War if he will grant the release, on compassionate grounds, of Private T. Irving, No. 25,912, Coldstream Guards, in view of the fact that this soldier is the only one of a batch of young miners from Haltwhistle who has not been returned to work at the mines, and that consequently his parents feel a sense of injustice?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Mr. WASONasked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been directed to the fact that the services of Sergeant Harry A. Sinclair, Royal Garrison Artillery, are very urgently required by his employer, W. J. Heddle, Esq., town clerk, Kirkwall; and if he will take all the circumstances of the case into consideration in considering the question of his demobilisation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Sergeant Sinclair is eligible for demobilisation he will no doubt be demobilised as soon as circumstances permit. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with tins non-commissioner officers' regimental number, age, particulars of his service and where he is serving, inquiries will be made.