§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received an application for the discharge of Private Robert Olive, No. 027754, Army Ordnance Corps, the Citadel, Bagdad, Mesopotamia, on compassionate grounds; whether this was supported by a statement by the rector of the parish that the statement of facts was true and by a doctor's certificate as to the health of the man's father; and can he say if the application has been considered and will be granted?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere is no trace of any application on behalf of Private Olive having been received by the War Office. Fresh instructions have recently been issued defining "extreme compassionate grounds," and governing releases on such grounds. 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, duly certified as set out in the Instructions, the case will be considered.
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Secretary of State for War why Sergeant G. Davey, No. 53981, Machine Gun Corps, 58th Battalion, C Company, British Expeditionary Force, France, has not been discharged, seeing that, though he joined up after 1st January, 1916, he has gained three wound-stripes?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSergeant Davey is not registered by the War Office either as934W pivotal or for special release. If he is entitled to wear three wound-stripes 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.
§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any soldier labour which it is possible to replace by the employment of civil labour, so as to release the men whose demobilisation is requested either on urgent compassionate grounds or urgent business grounds?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInstructions have been issued for the withdrawal of soldier labour and its replacement by civil labour wherever possible. Special consideration is given to cases of a compassionate nature.
§ Major WARINGasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private V. Johnson, No. 325450, 9th Durham Light Infantry, has applied for demobilisation while on leave; that he has now been ordered by the Officer Commanding Records, York, to rejoin his unit overseas and make application to his own commanding officer for demobilisation; whether, having joined in 1915 and being eligible for demobilisation, it is necessary for him to repair overseas in order to be re-embarked for home; and whether, in view of the shortage of transport, his berth on the outward and homeward journey can be saved by his demobilisation while in this country, and the order to rejoin his unit revoked?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Johnson is not registered either as pivotal or for special release, nor is there trace of any application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. Under current instructions, men on leave from France cannot be demobilised whilst on leave, except on extreme compassionate grounds. If this man's service is as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend, he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, he will be released as soon as circumstances permit.
§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Corporal B. Harrison, No. 50057, Royal Army Medical Corps, No. 8 P. O. W. Hospital, Belbeis, joined the Service in January, 1915; whether Corporal Harrison has been abroad for four years without 935W leave; and whether he will institute inquiry so that his demobilisation might be expedited?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLCorporal Harrison is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his length of service is as stated, 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 remind my hon. Friend that personnel of the R.A.M.C., though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery of demobilisation. Men thus retained are being released as soon as their services can be spared or they can be replaced.
§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Joseph Reader, No. 85018, Royal Field Artillery, C Battery, 55th Brigade, 13th Division, Mesopotamia, joined the forces in January, 1915; whether he has been four years in the Service and received no leave; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made with a view to the demobilisation of this man?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Reader 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 is eligible for demobilisation, unless he is serving under pre-war conditions of service and his term of Colour service is not completed. I would refer 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 officers or soldiers who are eligible for demobilisation are retained without good and sufficient cause.
§ Colonel Sir H. CARLILEasked the Secretary of State for War whether a Post Office telegraphist serving in the signal section of the Royal Engineers, in whose behalf a pivotal slip was issued in January last, may now be released and permitted to return to his civil occupation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAll men who were registered by the War Office as "pivotal" prior to 1st February, 1919, are eligible for demobilisation, irrespective of age or length of service. Such men are being released as soon as circumstances permit, unless temporarily retained for exceptional reasons by order of a General Officer936W Commanding-in-Chief, when they are released as soon as their services can be spared or they can be replaced.
§ Mr. BETTERTONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the case of Bandsman E. M'Intosh, No. 11902, 3rd East Surrey Regiment, aged seventeen years, who was at the age of fourteen years sent from the Grafton Street, Liverpool, Industrial School, where he was there detained with the Army without the consent of either of his parents; whether he will state under what authority this action was taken, and if it has the approval of the Army Council; and whether, in view of the fact that the period of detention in the industrial school to which he was sentenced has now expired and of the wish of the father and of the boy that he should be demobilised, the authorities will be instructed to release him from the Army forthwith?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made into this case, and I will communicate the result to my hon. Friend in due course.