BOYS SMOKING

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1937, Page 12

BOYS SMOKING

OFFICER’S REQUEST. GLASGOW, December 1. The parents of two boy soldiers now serving in Jerusalem with the 2nd Battalion of the Black Watch, are striving to/ secure their, sons’ discharge from the Army because an officer of the regiment has asked permission to thrash the boys. A few days ago Mr Malcolm MacMillan, of Blythswood Street, Glasgow, received a letter in which the commanding officer of the boys’ company told' him that his 17-year-old son -John had been reported several times for smoking.

As confining the boy to barracks appears to have no effect,” the letter stated, I am writing to ask your permission to give the boy a beating, as I consider that this will be the only way to stop him smoking.”

A similar letter has been received by Mr David Speedie, of Dykemuir Street, Glasgow, whose son is also aged 17.

fl he fathers of both boys, indignant at the request, have replied to the officer refusing to approve the suggested thrashing, and they have also written to Mr Hore-Belisha, Minister for War.

Mrs Malcolm MacMillan, the mother of one of the boys, said; “I shall not rest until I have my son released from the Army. He is a drummer-hoy and joined the Black Watch two and a-half years ago. It is a trivial offence; why, even girls smoke nowadays.” Mi- Speedie said: “I am an exsoldier and at one time was attached to the Black Watch. When I received this request I was astounded.”