§ Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War why Driver W. Mitchell, No. T4/245708, 537th Company, Royal Army Service Corps, Old Barracks, Fermoy, Ireland, who enlisted in 1914, has not yet been released, when men who joined the Army subsequently have already been demobilised from that unit?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLDriver Mitchell 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. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Elland on the 8th May, regarding the demobilisation of men who enlisted in 1914 and 1915. Senior officers have been appointed to inspect unit registers with a view to ensuring that no officers or men who are eligible for demobilisation are being retained without good and sufficient cause.
§ Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Sapper Donald Blue, No. 254667, Royal Engineers, Signals, 10th Corps, H.A., British Expeditionary Force, Germany, was applied for as a pivotal man by his employers, Messrs. James Howden and Company, 195, Scotland Street, Glasgow, on the 26th December, 1916, on the grounds of his being assistant manager, property department; whether he is aware that the former manager of this department is now dead and that Sapper Blue is therefore urgently needed by his employers; and if he will state whether there is any likelihood of this man being released although he enlisted after 1st January, 1916?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLSapper Blue is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. 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 is eligible for demobilisation under current instructions, he will be demobilised as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Major NALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether it will be possible 1363W to demobilise Rifleman T. Henley, No. 8136, 3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifles, who was in India in 1914, has served in German East Africa, is now at Ambola, India, and has never been home for twelve years?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Rifleman Henley's term of Colour service has expired he will be demobilised as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Mr. F. C. THOMSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Driver Robison Sutherland, No. 370278, 157th Company, Royal Army Service Corps, 19th Divisional Train, British Expeditionary Force, France, a man of forty-three years of age, is still retained; and whether he will give orders for his demobilisation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf Driver Sutherland's 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 complete. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Captain REGINALD TERRELLasked the Secretary of State for War why Private A. G. Heckman, M/2, 034415, Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps, has not yet been liberated, in view of the fact that he enlisted on 20th January, 1915, and has been on continuous service ever since, while men of later date of enlistment have been demobilised?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Heckman 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 complete. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as circumstances permit. Senior officers have been appointed to inspect unit registers, with a view to ensuring that no officers or men who are eligible for demobilisation are being retained without good and sufficient cause.
§ Mr. INSK1Pasked the Secretary of State for War whether the case of Private G. G. Hill, Royal Army Medical Corps, Military Accounts Department, Ghoopwir Barracks, Poona, who enlisted for service in 1915, and has since served for two 1364W years in Mesopotamia and six months in India, will be considered, with a view to demobilisation immediately the present restrictions on demobilisation are removed; and whether any time can be indicated at which his discharge may be expected, in view of the date of his enlistment and of the fact that his former employers are anxious to recover his services?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Hill is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If he joined 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 the exigencies of the Service permit. I would remind my hon. Friend that personnel of the Royal Army Medical Corps, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery of demobilisation. Men so retained are being released as soon as their services can be spared or they can be replaced.
§ Mr. CROOKSasked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he is aware that demobilisation papers have gone through for Private P. S. Todd, A. C. 1, No. 232908, Composite Repair Depot, Royal Air Force, Ægean. group; that his firm, Messrs. Barclay, bankers, have made urgent application for his release; that his commanding officer received a cable from Malta pressing for his release, but that the commanding officer has stated that he cannot be spared; whether he is aware that the man in question is merely performing clerical duties for a couple of hours a day; and whether he can take some action to secure this man's release?
§ Major-General SEELYI am making inquiries into this case and will communicate with my right hon. Friend as soon as possible.