HC Deb 06 August 1918 vol 109 cc1106-8
11 and 12. Colonel LESLIE WILSON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether General Sir Ian Hamilton and Lieutenant-General Sir William R. Birdwood will receive the decoration to be issued by the War Office to the Dominion troops for the Gallipoli operations; (2) whether it is proposed that Imperial troops will receive the decoration for the Gallipoli operations which is to be issued by the War Office; and, if not, whether the Army Council will strongly urge the Government to reconsider this decision, so that Imperial troops engaged in the same operations as Dominion troops, all under command of an Imperial officer, will receive equal treatment?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply on Thursday last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the East Riding Division of Yorkshire, to which I have nothing to add.

Colonel WILSON

Is the House to understand that not even any member of the 29th Division will receive a decoration for their service; is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this division and other divisions were precluded from receiving the Mons Star because they were fighting in the East, and does he not think it only fair that Imperial troops should receive equal recognition with Dominion troops?

Mr. MACPHERSON

This decoration is a decoration given by certain of the Dominions to their troops. The War Office in this case is simply the distributor of this decoration, which has had the approval of His Majesty. I do not think that the parallel is at all complete between this particular decoration and the Mons Star. This particular decoration is given by the Dominions, as I understand it, to commemorate the first appearance of Dominion troops in a European conflict.

Sir M. BARLOW

Will the War Office consider the question of instituting a special decoration for the English troops, especially the gallant Lancashire troops, in whom I am particularly interested, who took part in the landing at Gallipoli, in view of the fact that the Lancashire landing will go down as famous for all time?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Gentleman should give notice of that question.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

In view of the fact that there are not many of the 29th Division left—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. and gallant Gentleman should give notice of that question.

15. Sir A. SHIRLEY BENN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the Government will consider the advisability of issuing to the British troops who served in Gallipoli a decoration similar to that about to be issued by the War Office to the troops from the overseas Dominions who also served in Gallipoli, in recognition of the fact that it was the first time when British troops from the Mother Country fought side by side with their brothers from other parts of the Empire in a European war?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply on the 20th March last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Melton.

19. General McCALMONT

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how it is proposed to avoid the award of an extra medal to Colonial troops who serve on other fronts after serving in Gallipoli, while Imperial troops only receive one medal for similar service; and what will be the Regulations as regards the award of the Colonial medal to the Imperial officers who served with Colonial troops in Gallipoli?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The decoration for Australian, New Zealand, and Newfoundland troops, referred to in my reply on Wednesday last, will only be awarded to those individuals who fulfil certain conditions, and I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await the issue of the Regulations dealing with the matter.

General McCALMONT

Are not the Colonial troops bound to be entitled to two medals, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in addition to the other divisions which have been mentioned in other questions, the 10th (Irish) Division is also concerned in this matter?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I cannot add anything to the answer I have given.

Colonel LESLIE WILSON

Are we to understand that Colonial troops will receive two decorations and the Imperial troops one?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Yes, the Dominion troops will receive two decorations.

General McCALMONT

Is not that contrary to what the right hon. Gentleman said two days ago?