BOYS’ SMOKING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20926, 4 January 1938, Page 11

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 perr'—ioi. 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 •ya) to stop him smoking.” “I’ll Not Rest” A similar letter has been received by Mr David Speedle, of Dykemulr Street, Glasgow, whose son is also aged 17. The father 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 res', until I have my son released from the Army. He is a drummer-boy and joined the Black Watch two and a years ago. It is a trivial offence; why even girl- smoke nowadays” Mi Speedie said: “I am an ex-soldier

r at one time was attached to the Black Watch. When I received this request I was astounded.”