HC Deb 11 July 1944 vol 401 cc1586-7W
Sir E. Graham-Little

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of the Private No. 2694416 who has been certified by the physician for psychological medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital to be suffering from an epileptoid condition, who has had several mental breakdowns, but has been sentenced to prison for desertion from the Army notwithstanding the evidence submitted at the court-martial that his mental instability explained his desertion.

Sir J. Grigg

The soldier was tried on a charge of desertion to which he pleaded guilty. The court on the evidence adduced found him guilty of the charge. On disciplinary grounds there are no reasons for reconsidering the case. The medical evidence produced in this case has been very carefully considered and an electroencephalography has been carried out. The man has been examined by the Command neurologist, by the Command psychiatrist and by the consulting neurologist to the Army. In the opinion of these medical officers this man shows no evidence of epilepsy and is fit to serve his sentence.