§ MR. O'SHEAasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether since the 2nd West York Light Infantry Militia, raised 122 years ago, has been made the 4th Battalion of the York Regiment, he has considered that it will in consequence be placed junior to the 5th West York Militia, raised only about 25 years ago, but now designated as the 3rd Battalion of the amalgamated Regiment; whether his attention has been called to the fact that the officers and men of the 2nd West York Light Infantry feel acutely this slight to the prejudice of the older Battalion, which has had its head quarters at York since 1752, and which formerly bore the name of the York Regiment; whether, if the number 4 for precedence in the Militia, recently assumed by the 5th West York on the disbandment of the Rutlandshire Militia, has influenced the decision complained of, the authorities have considered that the numbers for precedence were drawn in 1833; and, whether his attention has recently been directed to Lord Melbourne's Circular of the 30th April 1833?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, I have read the Papers on the subject to which the hon. Member's Question refers, including Lord Melbourne's Circular, and I find that for about 21 years the 5th West York Militia Regiment has been allowed precedence of the 2nd West York Regi- 1096 ment; and I could not now alter this precedence without raising questions as to the precedence of many other regiments.