§ 37. Colonel CROFTasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a brigade commander appointed in 1914 becomes junior to a brigade commander appointed in 1916; if the latter is senior to-him in permanent rank; and whether this can now be rectified so that the temporary rank of brigadier-general may have the-same seniority as other temporary ranks?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes, Sir; seniority is decided by their substantive rank. It is not considered desirable to make any change.
§ Colonel CROFTHas my hon. Friend considered the fact that a brigade commander may have been promoted as far back as 1914, apparently for efficiency in the field, and another brigade commander 1409 may be only considered fit for promotion to-day, and yet the latter's substantive rank is greater than that of the other officer and he becomes his senior at once?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe matter was very fully considered by the military authorities at the outbreak of the War and has been quite recently reconsidered. They have come to the conclusion that it is best not to interfere.
§ Commander WEDGWOODIs it not time, after two and a half years of war, to unify the Army and have the same promotion for Kitchener's Army and the Territorials?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am not quite sure that that question arises out of the question on the Paper.