Oral Answers to Questions — British Army – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 13 April 1948.
Mr Hector Hughes
, Aberdeen North
12:00,
13 April 1948
asked the Secretary of State for War if he has yet considered the documents submitted to him to show the gross irregularities in the trial by field general court martial of 2879296 Private J. Ronald, 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, who was convicted of murder, sentenced to death and is now in Peterhead Prison; and if, in view of these irregularities, he will order that this irregular conviction be quashed.
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Seaham
The appeal submitted on behalf of this soldier is being considered as a petition to the army Council against the conviction of murder. I will write to my hon. and learned Friend as soon as a decision has been reached.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
