HC Deb 10 March 1896 vol 38 c592
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether instructions will be given to commanding officers to refrain from punishing or reprimanding, as in some recent instances, soldiers who think fit to wear the shamrock on St. Patrick's Day?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

General officers commanding districts were instructed in 1893 that the grant of permission to wear a national or other emblem or badge on the occasion of anniversaries was to be left to the direction of officers commanding units. It is not thought necessary to issue further orders on the subject.

MR. MACNEILL

asked whether the hon. Gentleman was aware that in 1892 a soldier named O'Grady was sentenced to 48 hours' imprisonment by the commanding officer at Aldershot for wearing the shamrock on St. Patrick's Day?

MR. BRODRICK

said, there was no desire to interfere with the discretion of the commanding officer in such matters.

MR. MACNEILL

May the men wear the shamrock, then?

[No answer was given.]