§ MR. THOMAS SHAW (Hawick Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Sergeant Davidson, Hawick, a member of the Border Rifles, who volunteered for active service in South Africa, and was, on the request of the Rev. Dr. Rudge Wilson, chaplain of the Corps, selected as his servant in the campaign; whether he is aware that Sergeant Davidson served for a period of nine months attached to the 2nd Scots Guards in General Rundle's 8th Division, marching over 1,200 miles, and being frequently in action, and serving with distinction; that a claim was made by Mr. Wilson for war medals for Sergeant Davidson and himself, with clasps for Witte Bergen, Cape Colony, and Transvaal, and that this claim was allowed as regards Mr. Wilson, but refused as regards Davidson, who was on the contrary awarded a bronze medal, without clasps, such as is given to the Kaffir drivers; whether he can see his way to have this mistake rectified, and Davidson awarded similar honours to those granted to his fellow Volunteers in the Border Rifles.
§ MR. BRODRICKThis man went out to South Africa purely as a civilian servant in the employment of the chaplain mentioned; he has therefore no claim to any honours other than the medal awarded to civilians in a similar position.