CO129-452 - Others & Individuals - 1918 — Page 395

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Without examination my pay was reduced to 21 per week as from July 31st last, my wife has also had extreme sickness,

and having this as my only income you can imagine the debt

I am in, and the humiliation suffered.

L

To one who has been accustomed to totally different

circumstances, this is doubly hard.

Having to forego all previous ambiti

one,

I applied to the vfficers Appointments Dept. for work, although unfit I had to attempt some thing.

I have only, during 19 months, had three calls for my services, and on the grounds of my present disability, I have been unable. to under take any of them, no matter how willing.

I have applied for over 30 situations myself and with the same result, no use, because of health and disability. This disability has cost me many a good remunerative situation, in your own case of office, one of the value of £360 per year commencing salary.

I applied to the Pensions Miniatry for an alternative pension under the Royal Warrant for Retired Fay of officers. This was refused me on the grounds that as I was a student, I had no

e-war earnings, no notice was paid to the cost of my pre- var education and prospects, and that my position, social and financial, has been "blighted" and no chance to recover the same.

I then applied for financial assistance for training under another Article of the "arrant. I was refused this because I was not prevented from resuming my previous study, by reason of my disability, i.e. a student can usually student, not matter what is the nature of is disability.

I have now been granted a Kitchener 3c olarship tenable in Pharmacy at anchester University, cut as I have not the money with which to purchase my railway season ticket,

I can neither take advantage of the Scholarship, nor obtain the ain- tenance 1 Lowance attached to the sam

By my service I have lost my prospects health and capital, whilst debt and humiliation has been forced upon me, I have tried every way to obtain work out from and the foregoing you will see the obstacles there are, how handicapped I am. Ly reason for writing this letter is to point out that if my disability prevents me from obtaining such positions as that which your Department offers to disabled officers, I ought to receive more

than £l preek as pension.

over

t

Already I am heavily in debt, through circumstances which I have no control and which are consequen

I trust therefore that you upon service and disability. will place the case personal y before the Pensions Minister, pointing out the loss I have sustained, through not being able to under take the work offered to me in Hong Kong, and try to obtain justice for me on the several points I have explained.

I shall be extremely grateful for this, as my wife and self, are suffering great worry wondering what the future is for our elves and home because the present state of affairs cannot exist much longer.

Pardon the lengthy letter, and in the hope that you will endeavour to ssist me I will close,

Thanking you in an icipation

Er "alter Long.M.P..

I am etc,

(sd) James Jefferson

Late Lt. East Lancs. Regiment.

Secretary of State for the Colonies.