CAPTAIN JERVISsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whereas, when substantive and corresponding brevet rank come together in a Regiment, the former invariably takes preference, what steps will be taken to insure a senior officer holding only brevet rank against being superseded in a Regiment by a junior holding corresponding substantive rank? Will brevet Lieutenant Colonels of five years' service in that rank and thirty-one years' service in all be entitled to the brevet rank of Colonel under the latter part of Clause 69 of Despatch No. 194, June 19, 1864? And will an officer who had served eleven years (or twelve, as the case might be) in the rank of brevet Lieutenant Colonel, obtained in accordance with the above clause, or in such brevet and substantive rank combined, be eligible to take his turn in the List of Officers nominated for Colonels' Allowances?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODreplied that, inasmuch as all officers promoted to brevet rank would rank according to the dates of their substantive rank, he did not see how 1572 senior officers could be superseded by juniors. With regard to the second Question of the hon. and gallant Member, his reply was that brevet lieutenant-colonels of five years' service in that rank and thirty-one years' service on full pay altogether would be entitled to the brevet rank of colonel under the latter part of the clause.
§ In reply to Colonel SYKES,
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, that the appointments to the Irregular Forces were made, and always had been, irrespective of rank.