16. Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Secretary of State for War if he will inquire whether Mr. Arthur Sexton, secretary to the National Society of Chauffeurs, was assured by Sir Reginald Brade that no commanding officer had any right to exceed orders by inflicting first field punishment for minor offences, seeing that this punishment was substituted for flogging and no man was flogged unless he had committed a very serious offence; and, in view of the punishment inflicted on Driver Graham for a first offence, he will ascertain what punishment can be administered to the court-martial who were guilty of such a dereliction of duty?
§ Mr. FORSTERI fear that I cannot add anything to the answer I gave my hon. Friend yesterday. This man was dealt with not by his commanding officer but by a court-martial who were within their rights in giving the punishment named. The court-martial doubtless took all circumstances into consideration before awarding the punishment.
Mr. WASONHas not this man received double punishment, as not only was he sentenced to this heavy punishment, but he was deprived of his allotment?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am afraid that the deprivation of the allotment is a necessary consequence of the condemnation by court-martial.