§ CAPTAIN NORTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he can state if both the Commander-in-Chief at home, as well as the Commander-in-Chief in India, recommended the grant of a medal for the operations against the Katchin tribes during the cold season of 1892–3; upon what grounds the recommendation was refused, and the rank and file who lost 120 killed and wounded thus left unrewarded, while the senior officers received brevets, and all officers were allowed to count the campaign as war service; and whether the medal was granted for all operations up to April, 1892, while denied for those during which the heaviest fighting took place?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe grant of a medal for the operations in question was recommended 1335 by the Commander-in-Chief in India, but no recommendation was received from the Commander-in-Chief at home. The grant was refused on the ground that the operations, though attended in the case of the military police by considerable casualties, were not of sufficient extent and importance to justify the issue of a medal.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONArising out of that answer, does not the noble Lord think that operations which entail a loss of 120 in killed and wounded sufficiently severe to justify official acknowledgment?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI can add nothing to the answer I have given.