§ COLONEL LOCK WOOD (Essex, Epping)To ask the Secretary of State for War if the junior officer appointed to a divisional Army Service Corps command in the Territorial Force has been given a higher rank than the other officers, very senior to him, in a similar position are allowed to hold.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The officer first gazetted to the command of a divisional transport and supply column was given the rank of colonel. It was then decided that future appointments should be with the rank of lieutenant-colonel only. As this officer's appointment had been gazetted it was not possible to deprive him of the rank of colonel, but on the other hand, it was not considered desirable to bestow a rank which is now considered unsuitable for military reasons on other officers who are appointed to the command of these columns. The fact that he was junior in service to other officers afterwards appointed to similar commands was purely accidental.