§ Mr. CROOKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 768W men of the 19th Divisional Artillery, France, have been informed that the earliest date on which the men eligible for demobilisation can be released will be some time in June; whether he is aware that Driver H. Longhurst, No. 114043, C Battery, 88th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, is eligible for demobilisation, having joined the Colours in 1915; that his pre-war employer made application for him prior to the 1st February last; that if this man cannot be released very soon his berth will have to be filled; and whether he can take action to expedite his release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLDemobilisation Regulations apply to all Corps alike, but it is possible that certain men of the 19th Divisional Artillery, though eligible for demobilisation, are temporarily retained as part of the military machinery of demobilisation. With regard to the latter part of the question, Driver Longhurst is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release, and I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If this man joined the Colours for continuous service prior to the 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 would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Moss Side on the 1st instant regarding the appointment of senior officers to inspect unit registers with a view to ensuring that no officer or man is retained without good and sufficient cause. I regret that I can take no special action in this case.
§ Mr. WASONasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that on 8th April his private secretary wrote that it was not considered desirable to demobilise Private J. R. Croy, the only support of his mother, a widow, in ill-health, and that on the previous day he had assured the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland that Private J. R. Croy had been demobilised on compassionate grounds and his release ordered; and if he will state if, under the circumstances, his promise will be kept?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLOwing to the hon. Member having addressed himself to so many persons on this matter, it is regretted that the answer referred to in the first part of the question was based on incomplete information and conflicted 769W with that which he had previously received. The demobilisation of this soldier is proceeding in due course.
§ Mr. ALLEN PARKINSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Corporal George Cooper, W.R., No. 149044, Royal Field Artillery, transferred to Royal Engineers, Locomotive Workshops, Bagdad-Samarah Railway, Bagdad West, M. E. Force, who joined the Regular Army on 27th May, 1912, for six years with the Colours and six years with the Reserve, is still being retained on active service and refused demobilisation and has never had leave to visit home since he left England; and whether, in view of the fact that this man's father, who served twelve years in the Army, is now sixty-five years of age and unable to maintain the home through ill-health, and his mother an invalid, action will be taken to order this man's early demobilisation or, at least, leave of absence?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Corporal Cooper's service is as stated by my hon. Friend, he is eligible for demobilisation, and will be released as soon as circumstances permit.
Captain TERRELLasked the Secretary of State for War whether Sapper F. Luckett, No. 191697, Royal Engineers Signals, 90th Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery, British Expeditionary Force, is being retained with the forces; whether Sapper Luckett is over forty years of age; whether application for his demobilisation was made in due course by the postmaster of Oxford; and whether he will do what is possible to expedite his release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are already being made, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.
§ Major WARINGasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Gunner J. H. Fisher, No. 127769, 9th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery, applied for demobilisation while on one month's leave in England, 28th February to 30th March, 1919; that this leave has twice been extended, that full particulars of his case have been furnished three times to the military authorities, and that he has now been requested to furnish the same particulars again; why it is necessary for a man to furnish particulars of his case on four separate occasions to the military authorities, and when this man may expect to hear that the War Office has come to a decision in respect of his case?
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§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made, and I will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. CROOKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that application was made some time ago for the release of Sergeant D. C. Dow, No. 641, Mechanical Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps, British Expeditionary Force, in order that he might return to his pre-war occupation; that up to the present no further action has been taken, and whether he can hold out any prospect of this soldier being released at an early date?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSergeant Dow 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. If this non-commissioned officer is eligible for demobilisation under current instruction, he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider the application for the release of Private Thomas Green, No. 6136, Durham Light Infantry, put forward on the ground that his brother is suffering from consumption and has broken down, while his mother also is invalided in her efforts to keep the home in existence; whether he is aware that the local war pensions committee and the local authorities have strongly recommended this claim, and whether he will further consider the fact that this man was a prisoner in Germany for a long time under circumstances very trying to his health?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere is no trace of any application on behalf of Private Green having been received by the War Office. Fresh instructions have recently been issued defining "extreme compassionate grounds" and governing release on such grounds, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. If the case falls within any of the categories prescribed therein, and my hon. Friend will obtain a statement giving the full facts and particulars, it will be considered.