Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the transport "Mercian," which left Southampton on 27th October, 1915. was attacked by a submarine in the Mediterranean, 40 officers and men being killed and 50 wounded of the Lincolnshire Yeomanry: that the wounded were taken to hospital at Oran, Algeria, while the unwounded proceeded to Egypt; and that the wounded, when recovered, did not reach Egypt until 1st January, 1916; and whether, seeing that the 1914–15 Star has been granted to and received by the unwounded but refused to the wounded because they did not arrive in Egypt one day earlier than they did, some relaxation will be made in the case of these wounded members of the Lincolnshire Yeomanry in view of the exceptional circumstances of their case?
Sir R. SANDERSI am fully aware of the circumstances of this case, but I2292W regret that it is not possible in any circumstances to allow exceptions to the limits of time and area fixed for the award of medals.