"SUPPRESSED" HERO

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2858, 24 August 1916, Page 9

"SUPPRESSED" HERO

THE BOY WHO SHOT DOWN IMMELMANN. , \

Mr. H. W. Forster (Financial Sec* rotary to the War Office), replying recently to a number of questions in the House of Commons as to the suppression of the name of the airman who shot down Captain Immelmann, the Fokker pilot, said it had not been customary to mention the names of officers and 6oldiers who performed acts of gallantry. The matter was,' however, being further considered, in consultation with the military authorities in Franco. The name of the officer in question was not communicated to tho Press Bureau for publication, and consequently there was no question of the Bureau haying suppressed tho name. Sir Arthur Markham (since deceased) asked if tho name of Lieutenant M'Cubbin, aged 18J, was not sont to tiie Bureau and suppressed. [The name was sent by the "Daily Mail" and sup* pressed.] Mr. .Forster: I was not aware of that.

Sir Edward Caj'son asked what was the objection to giving names. Mr. Forster said that in the early Rtßges of the war it was the. oxpress desire of the Royal Flying Corps that. do mention of individual names should be made.

. Mr. Pringle: Why should an exception, be made in the case of the flying officers?

Mr. Forster said he did not' think the Royal Flying' Corps office"rs wanted it, and ho also thought it should bo in the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief.