HC Deb 27 July 1915 vol 73 cc2124-5
5. Sir J. HARMOOD-BANNER

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether anything will be done to expedite the promotion of officers who have been in the trenches over six months and who are recommended by their commanding officer for promotion, and to remedy the hardship of having officers who have seen no service, but have received promotion at home, being sent out to take precedence of officers who have seen much service, but who are retained for some reason or other in their original ranks, especially as the officers referred to have been acting as captains and first lieutenants for a considerable period without receiving any addition of rank or pay?

Mr. TENNANT

The promotion of officers is governed by establishment. I have already on several occasions explained in what circumstances and to what extent temporary promotion is given to officers who have been acting in higher ranks than their permanent rank. When reinforcements are required in a certain rank, officers are sent out from home, but, unless the units are to be starved of reinforcements, it is not possible to arrange that no officers of ranks higher than the lowest are sent out in this way, and if captains or lieutenants are sent they must take their proper precedence. With the rapid promotion which is now obtained, I do not think cases of supersession such as the hon. Gentleman has in mind are in any way frequent.

Sir J. HARMOOD-BANNER

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will try to expedite the promotion of these officers who have been transferred from the Reserve, but are still kept in the lower rank? Is it a fact that only one regiment has been dealt with so far as regards the promotion of any of these officers?

Mr. TENNANT

I am not quite sure what the hon. Member is alluding to. If he is alluding to the general scheme for giving temporary rank to officers serving in a higher rank than their permanent rank—

Sir J. HARMOOD-BANNER

I am alluding to the case of officers who have gone out as second lieutenants. They have been out there six months and have been recommended for promotion by their commanding officer, but they still remain in the lower rank.

Mr. TENNANT

Now I recollect to what the hon. Gentleman is alluding. I have made representations on the subject, and it will not be lost sight of—indeed, I hope the matter will be expedited.

Major-General Sir IVOR HERBERT

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the number of cases in which officers went out as second lieutenants at the beginning of the War and have since been superseded by officers holding the rank of lieutenant which they gained at home, without having had any experience in military operations?

Mr. TENNANT

That is precisely the point to which the hon. Gentleman has drawn my notice. My answer, therefore, is in the affirmative.