DR. RUTHERFORD (Middlesex, Brentford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the conditions under which the King's medal for the South African campaign was granted have resulted in unequal treatment, so that men who served during the first and more arduous portion of the war received one medal, the Queen's—while men who served during the second and less arduous portion received two medals—Queen's and King's. Whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction caused, especially amongst the Natal Field Force and the Colonial forces, in consequence; and whether he will take steps to remedy the inequality.
§ MR. HALDANEThe object of the King's medal was to give special recognition to the services rendered by the troops in the later phases of the campaign, and to reward those soldiers who. by their long service in the field, brought the war to a successful termination. This is clearly stated in the Army Order promulgating the grant of the medal. The Army Council are not aware of any sound grounds for re-opening the question of the conditions of the grant.