§ Sir O. THOMASasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that three unidentified soldiers are still in hospital in France suffering from shell-shock and loss of memory, he will give orders that they be photographed so that relatives of missing soldiers may see the photographs?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think my hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. I am informed that there is only one such soldier whose identity has not been definitely fixed. If the others to whom my hon. and gallant Friend alludes are the two British prisoners of war still in Germany mentioned in my reply to his question of the 15th April, the identity of these has always been known. As regards the latter part of the question, experience has shown that identification by photographs, especially when reproduced in the Press, is most unreliable, and the suggestion made is not considered either practicable or desirable. Every effort is being made to clear up the case of the man in question.