§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it has been brought to his notice that forty-two British telegraphists volunteered for service with the Royal Engineers in May, 1900, for a period of twelve months or till the end of the war in answer to the call for recruits for the 24th Middlesex Field Army Post Office; and seeing that while other Volunteers have been allowed to return, these men are not being relieved, whether he can see his way to either relieve these men or reward them for their prolonged service in South Africa.
LORD STANLEYMy attention has been drawn to the case of these men. Every effort has been made to relieve them, but owing to the increase in the number of telegraphists required in South Africa, it has been found impossible to spare them so far. I must remind the hon. Member that they are in receipt of full civil salary in addition to their military pay.
§ CAPTARIN NORTONSeeing that these men have been treated differently from other men will they receive any special reward for this prolonged service?