HC Deb 17 April 1918 vol 105 cc406-7
28. Mr. TICKLER

asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether, now that it has become necessary to secure more fighting men, he will redeem his promise to reinstate General Elliot, who has been reported as a good fighting officer by every general he has served under in this War, and was mentioned in home-service dispatches for work in organising the Second Wessex Division, which he commanded at the end of 1914?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I regret I have nothing to add to previous answers on this case.

Mr. HOGGE

Does my hon. Friend wish the House to believe that the War Office can find no employment for General Elliot, who has been out of a post all this time because he got into trouble with the conscientious objectors? Does he want the House to understand that the War Office have no use for this officer?

Mr. MACPHERSON

There is a great deal of need at present for the rank and file, but there is no particular need at present for brigadier-generals. We are already reappointing two out of the three officers who were condemned by the court-martial, and it is much more difficult to appoint a brigadier-general than a colonel or a major. One was a colonel and the other was a major. It is correspondingly difficult to give an appointment to a brigadier-general when so many men are now home who require rest.

Mr. PRINGLE

Could you not appoint a brigadier-general to relieve some man who is coming home from the front?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Of course, an appointment of that nature is in the hands of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, and I have no doubt he has got experienced men who he thinks are suitable to occupy the posts vacated.

Mr. HOGGE

Can General Elliot not be offered any other kind of work than substitution in the post of brigadier-general? Has any alternative appointment been offered him?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Not as far as I know. It has always been my wish to see him appointed to the post of brigadier-general, but so far no such appointment has been made.

General McCALMONT

Is it not a fact that to appoint this officer to a brigade which was already proposed to be given to an officer in France would deprive the officer in France of his pay?

Mr. MACPHERSON

That is so.