HC Deb 04 February 1941 vol 368 c806W
Mr. Gledhill

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in future, War Office letters advising parents of the loss of their sons may be specially typed on good class paper, instead of as at present being duplicated on cheap paper with the personal details filled in by handwriting?

Captain Margesson

The letters advising parents of the loss of soldier sons are sent out from Army Record Offices. The present form of letter, printed on white paper, with the personal details filled in in writing, was adopted in order to ensure rapid notification of casualties, especially when they are numerous. If the letters were specially typed in full there would at times be considerable extra delay. Quite apart from the difficulty, in present circumstances, of obtaining the extra clerical assistance that would be required, I think that, all things considered, the present method of notification is open to fewer objections.