§ Sir M. BARLOWasked the Secretary of State for War with regard to the case of Private Harvey Schofield, No. 25060, 15th Lancashire Fusiliers (1st Salfords), attached 96th Infantry Brigade, at Bonn, of 2, Shepherd Street, Salford, whether he is aware that this man joined up in 1915 and saw service abroad, that he is one of eight children and the support of his mother who is a widow, that frequent applications have been made to the War Office for his demobilisation in accordance with the regulations, and that no answer can be obtained from the War Office?
Captain GUESTAn application for Private Schofield's release on compassionate grounds was received, but after careful consideration it was decided that 1785W the facts put forward were not of such an extreme nature as to warrant his demobilisation on these grounds. If he joined for continuous service prior to 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.
§ Sir M. BARLOWasked the Secretary of State for War, with regard to the case of Private Thomas Conway, No. 364230, 12th Lancashires, headquarters in France, formerly in the 15th Lancashire Fusiliers (1st Salfords), and of 35, Frederick Street, Salford, whether he is aware that this man joined up in 1914 and saw service abroad, and is eligible for demobilisation under the Regulations; and that frequent applications have been made to the War Office for his demobilisation, and no answer can be obtained?
Captain GUESTAn application was received for Private Conway's release on compassionate grounds, but as the facts put forward were not of such an extreme nature as to warrant his release on these grounds it was refused. If his age and length of service are 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.
§ Sir M. BARLOWasked the Secretary of State for War, with regard to the case of Corporal F. Fabrom, No. 12032, 16th Lancashire Fusiliers (2nd Salfords), now at No. 1 Dispersal Unit, Prees Heath, Whit-church, of 12, Artisans' Dwellings, South Salford, whether he is aware that this man joined up in 1915 and saw service abroad, that he also has a widowed mother dependent on him, and is entitled to demobilisation under the Regulations; and that frequent application has been made to the War Office, but no answer can be obtained?
Captain GUESTCorporal Fabbron 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. 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 term1786W of Colour service is not completed. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. As this man is serving with a dispersal unit he is liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation until his services can be spared or he can be replaced.
§ Captain BOWYERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will expedite the demobilisation of Driver F. Gardiner, No. T 4/249,346, Royal Army Service. Corps, attached to the 123rd Field Ambulance, 75th Division, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, in view of the fact that this man prior to the War served for two years voluntarily with the 2nd South Midlands Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, was mobilised on the 5th August, 1914, proceeded to Egypt April, 1915, since when he has had no leave, and since when he has served in Egypt, Gallipoli, and Palestine?
Captain GUESTDriver Gardiner 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 the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Secretary of State for War why Private E. Biddle, No. 66098, Royal Army Medical Corps, B Section, 79th Field Ambulance, British Salonika Force, Macedonia, who joined the Army in August, 1915, and has had no leave for years, has not been demobilised and allowed to return home; and when will he be?
Captain GUESTPrivate Biddle 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. If he is eligible he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
Major NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the reason that has led to the delay in demobilising Sergeant N. Travers, No. 5027, Army Service Corps, Expeditionary 1787W Force Canteen, a B1 man who would have been demobilised prior to 1st February, but was asked to remain on during a critical period on the understanding that he was demobilised during the first week of that month: whether Sergeant Travers has a doctor's certificate as to his wife's ill-health and that his employers, Messrs. Johnston, of 36, Botolph Lane, have informed him that they can no longer hold open for him his position in their firm; what immediate steps he proposes to take; and if a soldier can be forced to serve against his will in the Army and Navy Canteen Board?
Captain GUESTSergeant Travers 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. The Expeditionary Force Canteens form part of the Royal Army Service Corps, and men serving in that branch of the Service have to be eligible for demobilisation under current instructions to be released. If this non-commissioned officer is eligible under such instructions he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Mr. NEIL M'LEANasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private Mackenzie, No. 5523, 1st Battalion, British Expeditionary Force, Mesopotamia, is admitted by the War Office to be eligible for demobilisation on account of his war service; whether his relatives have been told that he must make application to his commanding officer to be put in an early draft for dispersal; and whether it is the policy of the War Office to place upon the men themselves the responsibility for applying for demobilisation?
Captain GUESTPrivate Mackenzie is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If he is eligible for demobilisation under current instructions, he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. With regard to the last part of the question, I have already stated in this House that in my opinion commanding officers are the best fitted to judge what men they are able to release, and I am sure that my hon. Friend will appreciate the fact that the War Office is not in possession of full particulars of every man serving. Except in cases where special circumstances warrant a man's immediate demobilisation, the War Office does not give instruc-1788W tions for the release of individual soldiers. I may add that senior officers have been appointed to inspect the registers of units with a view to ensuring that no officers or men who are eligible for demobilisation are being retained without good and sufficient cause.
§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether Sergeant F. A. Greenham, No. 022529, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, who enlisted under the Derby scheme, and was ordered to Russia in August, 1918, is forty-three years of age, married, and the proprietor of a one-man business; whether he will order Sergeant Greenham's immediate demobilisation, and the substitution of a younger man, in view of the fact that Sergeant Greenham is now on leave in this country and that consequently no derangement of transport is involved in his release; whether he is aware that analogous cases exist in the Russian Expeditionary Force; and whether he will order the demobilisation of all men in these categories who are retained in Russia by compulsion when transport facilities permit?
Captain GUESTInquiries are already being made in this case and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.