§ 87. Mr. AGG-GARDNERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether British officers who are made prisoners of war are thereby automatically disqualified from obtaining such honours as would but for their capture have been awarded them; and, if so, whether this rule applies to officers of the Royal Flying Corps who may have been compelled, through accidents to machinery, to land in the enemy's country?
§ Mr. TENNANTIf the hon. Member will refer to paragraph 675 of the King's Regulations he will see that in the case of officers or soldiers made prisoners of war a Court of Inquiry has to assemble to determine the circumstances in which the officer or soldier became a prisoner of war. I think it must be obvious that until it is known whether an officer or soldier became a prisoner through his own default or not no recommendation for the bestowal upon him of a decoration could properly be made. This applies to the officers of the Royal Flying Corps as well as to those of other arms.