HC Deb 27 July 1916 vol 84 cc1864-5
59. Mr. PETO

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the new silver badges for war services will include the officers and men of merchant vessels who, through wounds or sickness caused by the operations of the War, have re tired or have been compelled to relinquish their seafaring careers?

74. Mr. PETO

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the new silver badges for war services will include the officers and men of merchant ships chartered or requisitioned by the Admiralty who, on account of age or physical infirmity arising from wounds or sickness caused by service in these ships, have retired or relinquished their seafaring duties?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

I have been asked to answer these questions. As regards officers and men of merchant ships, chartered or requisitioned by the Admiralty, the rules under which the badges will be given are under consideration. It is contemplated that they will include all officers and men of the mercantile marine temporarily serving under the Admiralty, who are compelled to leave the naval service on account of physical infirmity arising from wounds or sickness caused by the service. As regards officers and men not so engaged but carrying out the ordinary commercial operations of the mercantile marine—the classes referred to by my hon. Friend in his Question 59—the award of the badge to which I have already referred to is not included in the Admiralty proposal.

Mr. WARDLE

Before the right hon. Gentleman decides on these badges, will he see that they are of a better pattern and design than they are at present?

Dr. MACNAMARA

I will show my hon. Friend one.

Mr. HOUSTON

Are we to understand that engineers are included in the term "officers"?

Dr. MACNAMARA

If on our service. They would then come under my answer to the question of the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Peto).

Mr. PETO

Will the case of those in the merchant service who have been wounded by torpedo or shell, or wounded in the ordinary course of their duty in the merchant service, and compelled to retire in consequence of having been wounded in the War, be taken into consideration before they are finally dismissed as unworthy of the badge?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Their case will no doubt be considered. But that is not a question for the Admiralty but for the Board of Trade.