§ 33. Mr. SHERWELLasked if young officers who applied for and were granted temporary commissions for immediate service at the outbreak of war when they were under the age limit are held by the War Office to be ineligible for permanent commissions, even when strongly recommended by their commanding officer, be- 1594 cause their period of service with the Colours has raised them slightly above the age limit?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe Regulation is that candidates for Regular commissions as second-lieutenants must be under the age of twenty-five. My hon. Friend will realise the necessity of limiting the maximum age. In cases, however, of special merit exceptions have been made.
§ Mr. SHERWELLDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that it is a gross injustice that young men should be penalised because of their service with the Colours; and is it not a fact that young men have recently been refused commissions on the ground that they are a few months over age, having served previously eighteen months with the Colours?
§ Mr. TENNANTIt is a difficult question. Of course, my hon. Friend will realise that we could not in every case make an exception, but there are exceptions being made.