HC Deb 26 April 1920 vol 128 c866W
Mr. JAMESON

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that a lieutenant in the 74th Punjabis, whose name has been privately communicated, passed through Sandhurst as medically fit in 1912, developed epilepsy, of which he had no previous symptoms, when on service in China after an attack of fever in 1915, was invalided out for epilepsy in 1916, and refused a pension on the ground that the epilepsy was not the result of military service; and if he will take steps to have a pension granted?

Mr. MONTAGU

Under the Indian Army Regulations an officer is not eligible for pension who is invalided out after less than three years' service in India in the Indian Army unless the disability is certified by the proper medical authority as having been caused by duty. The case referred to was very carefully considered, but the medical authorities could not regard the epilepsy as having been caused by military service, and the officer was, therefore, not awarded a pension. He was, however, granted a gratuity of one year's British pay.