§ SIR JOHN LENG (Dundee)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it has been brought to his notice that there is dissatisfaction among the officers commanding Volunteer Active Service Companies in the late war, some of whom were mentioned in despatches, owing to the fact that they have been, with one or two exceptions, excluded from the marks of appreciation given to officers in the Regular Army, and will he state why those officers who have been recommended by their Commanding Officers for permanent commissions in the rank in which they have served during the campaign have not been admitted to such regular service; and whether he will take steps to remove the alleged grievance.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)I regret that there should be any dissatisfaction among the officers named, whose services are highly appreciated, but no such dissatisfaction has reached me. Out of 589 Volunteer officers employed in South Africa, seventy were mentioned in despatches, and of these sixteen received rewards. No promise was made of regular commissions—these have only been given in exceptional cases. The hon. Member is probably aware that many Militia Officers who did good service in South Africa, and who wished for line commissions, have not obtained them. In so long a war, where so much good service has been done, it is impossible to reward everyone, and nearly 5,000 officers were mentioned in despatches.