64. Colonel ALAN SYKESasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the method recently adopted by the War Office of gazetting officers to a regiment and not to a unit of that regiment is causing inconvenience to the officers so gazetted as well as to the commanding officers and to those who keep a history of our old-established regiments; and whether he can see his way to arrange that the old system be again put into use, the name or number of the battalion of, for instance, the London Regiment being always given to which any officer is gazetted?
§ Mr. TENNANTI answered questions on this point on the 21st September and the 14th October. The change was adopted advisedly, and I cannot hold out to the 1995 hon. and gallant Gentleman any hope that the decision will be reconsidered. I do not think the publication in the "London Gazette" of the names of the units of regiments to which officers are appointed is essential to ensure the due preservation of adequate regimental records. I am assured that, with a little extra trouble, the distribution of newly-appointed officers between the various units of a regiment can easily be ascertained. By not pressing for an alteration of the present method of gazetting, officers commanding will be consulting the general interest as distinct from regimental interest.