HC Deb 07 June 1894 vol 25 cc580-1
COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if, having regard to the announcement that the Queen has been pleased to institute a Volunteer Long-Service Medal to be granted to Volunteers duly recommended by their Commanding Officers, on completion of 20 years' service, the phrase— Service, whether as officer, non-commissioned officer, or private, must have been consecutive, is to be taken as disqualifying a Volunteer who, having served a given number of years in one corps, has, on migration, or under other circumstances of civil life, been forced to quit one regiment, but who, as soon as practicable, has rejoined another corps; and, in such case, if he will be pleased to submit for Her Majesty's gracious consideration the hardship such exclusion will entail on many especially deserving non-commissioned officers and men?

*MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I appreciate the force of the claim of a Volunteer to have his service regarded as practically continuous when the interruption of it has been brief, and has been genuinely due to such a cause as is indicated, and I am, therefore, prepared to regard service in those circumstances as coming within the conditions, subject to a reasonable limitation in the length of the break.