RESERVIST NAMED AS COMMUNIST

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28104, 20 October 1956, Page 11

RESERVIST NAMED AS COMMUNIST

War Office Issues Statement (Rec. 9p.m.) LONDON. October 18. The War Office said last night thai there was an active Communist among Army reservists returning to Britain for home leave from Germany. In what London newsuapers today called an unprecedented step, the War Office issued a statement naming a soldier after a draft of 1500 reservists reached Britain on leave. The War Office statement said: “It is known that there is an active Communist in 120 Company. R.A.SC. Driver Douglas Thomson, of Old Aberdeen, who was recalled as a reservist “He is known to have attempted tn obtain the signatures of soldiers for a letter to be sent to the Prime Minister concerning the recall of reservists.” Some of the men of 120 Company handed conies of a letter to reporters This said, according to the “Daily Exnress”* “We 7ully realise that in our position as paid reservists we cannot if we are recalled during an emergency. If Britain was endangered there would be no hesitation on our part. “But we feel that to invade Egypt would not only lose us what we are trying to keep—Middle East oil —but would also lead to a third world war” They asked for the letter to be sen’ to the Prime Minister (Mr Eden), the “Daily Express” said.