HC Deb 24 July 1882 vol 272 cc1539-40
MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Secretary of State for War, If it is true that it is not intended to observe the provision of the Queen's Regulations, by which, when a brigade of Guards is ordered on active service, the brigade shall be commanded by a Guards' General?

MR. CHILDERS

Yes, Sir; Major General the Duke of Connaught will command the Guards' Brigade. May I ask the hon. Gentleman to quote the paragraph in the Queen's Regulations to which he refers? At the risk of being considered hypercritical, I would point out to the hon. Gentleman that there is no paragraph in the Queen's Regulations on the subject. The Guards' rules are different from the Queen's Regulations.

MR. O'DONNELL

gave Notice that on the Vote he would call attention to the Regulation which had been violated, and in particular to the manner in which three distinguished general officers with from 32 to 34 years' service had been passed over. He would also ask whether these three were not men all of whom had been promoted for distinguished service in the field, and what were the influences to which the Government yielded in committing this act of favouritism?