HC Deb 21 May 1903 vol 122 cc1345-6
MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (Oldham)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a discussion in the Canadian Parliament about the alleged irregularities in the 21st Lancers; and will he state whether the officer said to have been maltreated is a Canadian.

MR. BRODRICK

The officer of the 21st Lancers alluded to was born at Hull, and was an officer in the 3rd Militia Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment, from which he was appointed to a commission in his present regiment.

MR WINSTON CHURCHILL

Then I understand the officer in question is not of Canadian extraction?

MR. BRODRICK

No, Sir; I imagine not, because he was born in Hull.

SIR A. ROLLIT (Islington, S.)

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there is a Hull in Canada—a suburb of Ottawa?

MR. BRODRICK

The information supplied to me is that he was born in Hull, in Great Britain. Of course, there is a Hull in Canada.

SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that three of the Ministers who took part in the debate in the Canadian Parliament stated that he was a Canadian, and that the event would not have occurred if he had not been a Canadian?

MR. BRODRICK

I can only give the information supplied to me. It is not possible for me to go beyond the Papers supplied to me, and these state that the officer was born at Hull.