HC Deb 26 November 1902 vol 115 cc501-2
MR. BUTCHER () York

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is in a position to make any further statement in reference to the case of ex-Sergeant Leonard; whether investigations have been made into the truth of the statements contained in ex-Sergeant Leonard's letter of 8th October, 1902, as to the condition of the 1st Provisional Regiment of Dragoons; and, if so, whether he can state the result of those investigations, and what further steps he proposes to take in regard to this case.

MR. BRODRICK

Ex-Sergeant Leonard's case is as follows:—He has on several occasions been in trouble in his regiment. When the Carabineers went to South Africa he was not permitted to embark as not being a sufficiently good sergeant. but subsequently went with a draft. Before embarking he extended his service and was liable to complete twelve years, but after arrival in South Africa he represented himself as due to go to the Reserve, and his papers having been lost on board ship, he was permitted to return home in September last. Since being posted to the 1st Provisional Regiment of Dragoons at York he has three times been in trouble with the authorities. Sergeant Leonard's complaints were investigated by his Colonel, and if he was dissatisfied with the Colonel's decision, he was entitled to appeal to the General. This he did not do, but wrote instead to the Secretary of State complaining of his officers and of the condition of the regiment, and for this offence against discipline he was tried by Court Martial and reduced to the ranks. The general officer commanding the district has made an exhaustive enquiry into the state of the Provisional Regiment of Dragoons, and the Commander-in-Chief is considering whether any further measures are necessary. I should add that I have received a petition signed by 15,000 persons at York as a result of a mass meeting demanding a public inquiry into the allegations made by ex-Sergeant Leonard, but the House will realise that this is a matter which must be dealt with by the military authorities, and the course proposed would be subversive of all discipline.