Dr. Morganasked the Secretary of State for War why the application of Gunner J. Green, of 380th Searchlight Battery, for a transfer to the Royal Navy has been refused; whether he is aware that this man expressed a special desire to serve in the Navy at the time of his calling-up, and has persistently made representations to try to secure his transfer; and whether it is the Government's policy to force men to remain in one Service when a preference is expressed for another?
§ Mr. LawThe claims of men who express a preference for the Royal Navy or Royal Air Force at the time of calling-up are considered by officers of those Services, but the number of such claims is always more than can be accepted, and I infer that this is why Gunner Green was not originally accepted for the Navy. When a man has been posted to the Army, an application for transfer to the Navy is not entertained unless the applicant has some connection with the Navy or the Mercantile Marine, or some appropriate qualification. No such connection or qualification was disclosed in this case.