§ MR. SAMPSON LLOYDasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true, as stated in the public press, that on Monday the 31st of May, in a procession of the Roman Catholic Church at Ladbroke Grove Road, Bayswater, the canopy over the Cardinal Archbishop was borne by four soldiers of Her Majesty's Life Guards, in the uniform of their regiment; if true, whether the authorities at the War Office approve of the conduct of those soldiers in so officiating; and, if they approve it, whether he will state to the House under what regulations and restrictions, if any, British soldiers in uniform are authorized to officiate publicly in religious processions or in other religious observances?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYSir, I have been informed by the Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 2nd Life Guards that four Roman Catholic soldiers of that regiment applied for leave to attend certain religious services at the church in question. He is not aware what ceremonies were observed during the 1624 performance of the service, but there was no procession outside the grounds of the College. I believe, as a matter of fact, that a canopy was borne by those four soldiers over the Cardinal Archbishop who carried the Host. By the Queen's Regulations, officers and soldiers are forbidden to institute or take part in any meetings, demonstrations, or processions for party or political purposes in barracks, quarters, camp, or elsewhere. By the same Regulations soldiers are obliged never to appear except in uniform, and if therefore they attended religious services it would be a breach of the rules if they were not in uniform. No military offence, therefore, has been committed even if the statement of what these men did were correct. I do not think it desirable to take cognizance of what may pass within the precincts of any church or place of religious worship in respect to the religious ceremonies observed, or to the part which soldiers not on duty but attending the services of the denomination to which they belong may take.