THE EARL OF BECTIVEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, owing to the promotion on the 1st July 1881 of a Major from the half-pay list to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the 6th Dragoon Guards, the senior Major of that Regiment has been superseded by thirty Majors of Cavalry and one hundred and forty-nine Majors of Infantry; and, if so, if he will explain the reason?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, I gather from the Question of the noble Lord that he considers that the senior major of a regiment is entitled to be promoted to a lieutenant-colonel's vacancy. That, no doubt, is a common practice; but since Lord Cardwell's declarations in February, March, and June, 1871, to the effect that while promotion in the lower regimental ranks would generally be by seniority, those to the higher ranks would be generally by selection, the Royal Warrants have made it quite clear that no officer has a right to consider that he has a claim to this promotion, and the responsibility is thrown on the Commander-in-Chiefs, with the approval of the Secretary of State, to select lieutenant-colonels. In the present case, the Duke of Cambridge proposed, and I approved the exercise of this responsibility; and it would evidently establish a bad precedent if I gave the reasons for taking this course.