§ Mr. J. A. PARKINSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Corporal J. Roscoe, No. 32127, Royal Army Medical Corps, 27th Field Ambu- 1437W lance, Lowlands Division, Germany, is still being retained in the Army, despite the fact that he joined the Army on 4th September, 1914; and whether he will take steps to order his release at an early date?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLCorporal Roscoe 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 ho 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 refer to the answer given to-day to my hon. Friend regarding the personnel of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Secretary of State for War why Private R. Lishman, No. 118841,Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport, A.P.C.), Headquarters Garage, Cairo, who joined the Army in 1915 and has been in Egypt two years and three months without any leave, is not yet discharged; and when will he be?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Lishman is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If he joined the Colours for continuous service in 1915 he is eligible for demobilisation, unless 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 administrative branches of the Service, such as the Royal Army Service Corps and Army Pay Corps, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained until their services can be spared or they can be replaced. Men so retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation.
§ Mr. PARKINSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private William Talbot, No. 67173, Royal Army Medical Corps staff, 10th General Hospital, British Expeditionary Force, France, is still being retained in the Army although applications have been made for his release by his employers months ago; and, seeing that Private Talbot joined the Army in 1915, will instructions be issued for his release at an early date?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrivate Talbot is not registered either as pivotal or for1438W special release, nor is there trace of any application on his behalf having been received by the War Office. I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If he joined the Colours for continuous service in 1915 he would appear to be eligible for demobilisation. If so, he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. I would refer to the answer given to-day to my hon. Friend regarding the personnel of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
§ Mr. PARKINSONasked the Secretary of State, for War if he is aware that Sapper E. Mason, No. 426434, c/o Royal Engineer office, Victoria Barracks, Belfast, is still retained in the Army, despite the fact that he joined the Army in 1915, is now forty years of age; and was the owner of a one-man business which he is now anxious to re-open and whether he will issue instructions for the demobilisation of this man as early as possible?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are already being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary of State for War whether it was the intention of the Government that the soldiers sent to Russia were to be volunteers; whether Private James Hynd, No. 53277, Royal Scots Fusiliers, either attached or transferred to the Hampshire Regiment, and son of Harry Hynd, 33, Barcaple Street, Springburn, Glasgow, is being sent to Russia without home leave granted to him, without being told that he was to be taken there, and although he had not volunteered; and whether he will now order his release?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLInquiries are being made, and my hon. Friend will be informed of the result as soon as possible.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private L. W. Gorton, No. 521353, Mechanical Transport, Army Service Corps, now in Bombay, is aged more than forty-one years, married, with several children; whether he was sent abroad in October, 1915, and has never had leave since that date; whether he is broken down in. health from several attacks of malarial fever; whether he is eligible for demobilisation; whether application has been made for 1439W such; and the only reply from the War Office is that he will be released as soon as his services can be dipensed with; and whether any effort is really being made to secure demobilisation in this and similar cases?
§ Mr. FORSTERPrivate Gorton is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release. If his age and length of service are 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 the exigencies of the Service permit. The question of his health is obviously one for the medical authorities on the spot, and I am confident that it is not overlooked. I would remind my hon. Friend that personnel of the Royal Army Service Corps, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained as part of the military machinery for demobilisation until their services can be spared or they can be replaced. Men so retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation. My hon. Friend will also remember that, owing to local conditions, the demobilisation of the forces for India has had to be suspended. I can assure him that every effort is made to deal with these delays in demobilisation both in bulk and individual cases, but there are many considerations, more especially in connection with the Far East, which make action exceedingly difficult.
§ Mr. F. ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Driver A. T. Stevenson, No. 810968, No. 1 Section, 20th Divisional Ammunition Column, British Expeditionary Force. France, was mobilised in August, 1914, and has served for over twenty years in the Volunteers and Territorials; that this soldier has made applications for demobilisation; and whether he can state the reason for this man being retained with the force?
§ Mr. FORSTERDriver Stevenson 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. He appears to be eligible for demobilisation, and, if so, he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit.
§ Mr. J. A. PARKINSONasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that there are many men at present serv- 1440W ing in the Royal Army Medical Corps, 27th Field Ambulance, Lowlands Division, Germany, who joined the Army during 1914–15, many of whom have permanent Civil employment waiting for them; and whether he will issue instructions for these men to be demobilised at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. FORSTERPersonnel of the Royal Army Medical Corps, though eligible for demobilisation, are liable to be temporarily retained until their services can be spared or they can be replaced. Men so retained are being replaced as rapidly as possible by men who are not eligible for demobilisation. Senior officers have been appointed to inspect 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.