§ MR. BENN (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Ship's Corporal D. J. Waldron, of H.M.S. Northampton, was placed under arrest for 16 days, reduced in rank, and deprived of one good-conduct badge for alleged "insolent conduct" to a person unknown to him, dressed as a civilian (but who afterwards proved to be the complainant, a Colonel), who endeavoured to precede him in getting a ticket at the Bluetown Railway Station on December 2nd last; and whether, in view of the fact that the officer was not in uniform, and was unknown to Waldron, he will cause the case to be re-considered?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONWaldron was not placed under arrest, he was suspended from duty from December 9th (the date of investigation of the offence) to December 17th (the date of punishment being awarded). He was on probation as a ship's corporal. Men taken from the Marines for this duty have to serve two years' probation, and their final acceptance depends upon their behaviour while on probation, and whether they are specially recommended by their Captain. It was considered that Waldron's behaviour on this occasion 1096 rendered him unfit for a position in which special discretion was required, and he was consequently ordered to revert to his original position as a gunner in the Royal Marine Artillery. His conduct was investigated, in accordance with the Regulations of the Service, in the presence of the accuser and accused and of the witnesses, the charge was considered fully proved, and he was summarily punished by the deprivation of a good conduct badge, which, however, he can regain by six months' continuous good conduct. Had the complainant been a civilian, the offence against good order and naval discipline would have been the same, and would have been similarly punished.