HC Deb 03 February 1860 vol 156 cc509-10
MR. POLLARD-URQUHART

said, he rose to call the attention of the House to the case of certain officers of the army who, after having volunteered into the Land Transport Corps, did not receive the promotion that was granted to others who wore similarly engaged in the same service, on the ground of their names having appeared in general orders as appointed until further orders. He wished to say a few words to show the injustice with which some of these men had been treated. It would be remembered that the corps was formed at the end of the year 1855, when Lord Panmure wrote to Sir William Codrington, who was then in command of our army in the Crimea, to organize it. The corps was organized accordingly, and General Wetherall, who made out the commissions for the officers, happened to make them out in different forms. But they all volunteered to serve about the same time, so that there could be no claims from priority, and they all undertook the same duties. Furthermore, he held in his hand letters from General Wetherall, who signed the commissions, stating that the difference in the form was accidental, and that he did not intend to make any distinction between one officer and another. Sir William Codrington had also expressed himself to the same effect. When the war was over, the case of the officers of this corps was brought before the House, and in consequence all of them received promotion, with the exception of those who were named in general orders to serve till further orders. He thought the men who served under this verbal distinction through no fault of their own had good cause to complain, and that their cause was one of extreme hardship, and as such he brought it before the House.