§ SIR PATRICK O'BRIENsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether, reverting to a Question on Thursday, the 30th ultimo, relative to the late promotions in the Coldstream Guards, he was aware of the fact that in 1855 Captain Dormer, being the only Ensign and Lieutenant of the Grenadier Guards then possessing two years' Army service, was promoted over fifteen Officers who stood before him on the Regimental List, but who had not the requisite service, the Ensign at the top of the list only requiring sixteen days to complete his service for the step; and whether, having regard to Clause 44 of the Royal Warrant of the 3rd day of February, 1866, and to the precedent of Captain Dormer's case, the Secretary of State for War will state why a similar course has not been adopted in the Coldstream regiment to that acted upon in the Grenadiers on the occasion alluded to?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONIn answer, Sir, to the Question of the hon. Baronet, I beg to say that, at the time I answered his former Question on this subject, I was quite aware of the fact that in 1855 Captain Dormer, being the only Ensign and Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards then possessing two years service, was promoted over fifteen officers. I did not say, in 1884 answering that Question, that the recent case in the Coldstream Guards was wholly without precedent. I stated that the cases were very rare indeed in which the Ensigns of any regiment were not properly qualified by service. But not only was I aware of the precedent of Captain Dormer; but that precedent was taken into careful consideration before the decision was arrived at in the recent case. The hon. Baronet asks, in the second part of his Question, Whether the course lately adopted was taken, having regard to Clause 44 of the Royal Warrant of the 3rd of February, 1866. I hold in my hand a copy of the Clause, and it states that—
The vacancy shall be filled by the promotion of the senior qualified officer, unless it shall appear expedient to Our Secretary of State for War and to Our Commander in Chief that the vacancy should be otherwise filled.It was after carefully considering the whole of the circumstances that it was decided that the precedent of Captain Dormer was one that it was not desirable to follow, and that it was most undesirable in the interest of the Army that the course of promotion should be disturbed unnecessarily, and that officers should be promoted over the heads of their brother officers if such a course could be, with justice, avoided.
§ SIR PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to give Notice that on going into Committee of Supply I shall call attention to the circumstances connected with promotion in the Coldstream Guards.