§ 19. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Education whether, on or about the 7th of January, his Department issued orders direct to the headmaster of Dauntsey School, Wiltshire, through the inspector of secondary schools, and took action resulting in the schools being vacated on the 8th of January by a contingent of the Canadian Artillery Brigade who were billeted there on the 1st January; and, if so, whether the governors of the foundation were consulted before this action was taken, and upon whose initiative it was taken?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. H. Pease)This school was occupied on the 1st January by troops without the authority of the General Officer Commanding required in such cases by the Army Council. The Board, under these circumstances, asked the General Officer Commanding whether the school could be evacuated. The General Officer Commanding explained at an interview on the 7th January that the school had been occupied through a misconception, and that orders had already been given for its evacuation. The headmaster, the only responsible officer of the governors on the spot, was at once informed by the inspector of this, but no orders were issued by the Board, either directly or through their inspector. The school was vacated on the 8th January by direction of the military authorities. The governors were subsequently fully informed of these facts.