§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet satisfied himself of the existence of a custom in the Northumberland Fusiliers of parading on St. George's Day, each man wearing, by order of the Colonel, a red and a white rose in his busby, and that Irish, Scotch, and Welshmen are obliged to comply with the order under penalty for disobedience; and whether he will either prohibit the wearing of all national and Party emblems, or allow soldiers of all nationalities to wear their respective favours on national festivals, subject to a General Order to the contrary, and for special reasons, by the Commanding Officer?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE,) Lincolnshire, HorncastleThe red and white rose, as the hon. Member will see by the Army List, is one of the badges of the Northumberland Fusiliers, and I find it has been the custom since 1675 for all the members of the regiment to wear them on St. George's Day. The custom has no political bearing, and the Commander-in-Chief sees no reason for giving the order indicated in the latter part of the question.
§ MR. P. O'BRIENMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman thinks the shamrock has any political bearing, and does he see any reason why Irishmen should not be allowed to wear it in the same way as the regiment referred to?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEI see no reason when permission is given by the Commanding Officer.
§ MR. MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Does the Commanding Officer or the Field Marshall wear the shamrock on St. Patrick's Day?
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEI do not know.
§ MR. P. O'BRIENI beg to give notice that on the Army Estimates I shall call attention to this matter.