§ 64. Sir F. FLANNERYasked the Under-Secretary for War if he will inquire into the case of Private Robert B. Gardner, driver in the Motor Transport Department of the Army Service Corps: whether he is aware that Gardner made application for a commission, and was appointed to an interview at the War Office on 29th December last and a further appointment for an interview on 6th January last to come before the examining officers; whether he is aware than on the 5th January the officer in command of Gardner's unit refused him leave of absence for the purpose of attending at the War Office and confiscated the correspondence; and whether there was a misunderstanding on the part of Major Sealbrook, the commanding officer, in refusing leave of absence on the ground that the original application for promotion had not been sanctioned by him, and had been made in concealment of the fact that the applicant had already enlisted, when, as a fact, the applicant's signature stated that he was a private soldier at the time?
§ Mr. TENNANTPrivate Gardner was first officially invited on 11th January for an interview on the 13th. This was addressed to him in his private capacity, as on his application form he gave a private address, and it was overlooked that he was a serving soldier. His application was not proceeded with, because 569 his commanding officer did not consider him suitable for a commission and could not recommend him.