§ 28. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if, with a view to providing equitable consideration for the next of kin of deceased Service men who have died during peacetime service abroad, he will introduce an embalming service for the purpose of transporting the deceased home; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuUnder present arrangements, the body of a Service man who dies in North-West Europe is brought home at public expense if the next of kin desire it; and those who die at sea are buried at sea. To introduce an embalming service for those who die in other places overseas would not necessarily make it possible to repatriate all bodies. What we are looking for is an arrangement that will be general, practical, and considerate of the feelings of the next of kin, and there are considerable difficulties to be overcome.