HC Deb 21 August 1916 vol 85 c2280
107. Sir F. FLANNERY

asked the Secretary of State for War how many non-commissioned officers who had signed for foreign service have, upon being sent to Home-service battalions, been reduced, without their consent, to the ranks, with consequent reduction of allowances to their wives and families; whether many cases of such reduction; have occurred to sergeants who have hold their rank as long as two years, and who have performed the duties of the same with unblemished record; and whether the regulations will now be, so modified as to continue their rank to such non-commissioned officers upon their transfer from foreign-service battalions to home battalions?

Mr. FORSTER

I am afraid that I have no detailed information on this matter. If by transfer from one unit to another the number of non-commissioned officers becomes in excess of establishment, the junior acting non-commissioned officers would normally revert.