§ MR. KINNAIRDasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether there is any hope of the Indian Mutiny Medals being speedily distributed to the officers and men of the 81st Regiment, a very small number having as yet been given, and great disappointment being felt by the rest of the Regiment at the long delay which has occurred; and, whether in future it would not be possible to avoid such delays in the distribution of medals?
MR. GRANT DUFFreplied, that the medals referred to by the hon. Member had within the last few days been sent to the War Office for distribution. He could assure the hon. Member there had been no undue delay on the part of the War Office. The grant of the medals was only extended to the regiment in which the hon. Member was interested—the 81st—by a General Order, dated the 12th of August, 1868. As soon as the list of claimants was received from the commanding officer—in May, 1870—it was forwarded to India, and on its return to the India Office, on the 27th of December last, the medals were ordered to be made.