HC Deb 11 November 1959 vol 613 cc42-3W
41. Mr. Cooper

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent, prior to the trial by general court martial at Quetta, India, in 1934 of Lieut.-Colonel H. R. Sandford, the charges alleged against the accused officer were investigated by his commanding officer.

Mr. Soames

Mr. Sandford was convicted twenty-five years ago on a charge of uttering a false document. He was dismissed from the Service.

Since then, Mr. Sandford has tried again and again to have the verdict of the court set aside. His appeals on points of law or procedure have been most carefully considered by several Secretaries of State and he has applied unsuccessfully to the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Question now put by my hon. Friend concerns a point which has been considered several times by the Army Council, beginning in 1935.

At no time have any legal grounds been disclosed for interfering with the conviction. I think that the time has come when I must give notice that I will not review this case again unless some new point of substance is raised.