HC Deb 29 January 1918 vol 101 cc1410-2
12. Colonel M'CALMONT

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it has been any part of the policy of the Army Council to debar officers of the New Armies from the higher appointments in the Army; whether a number of such officers have been appointed brigadier-generals during the past eighteen months; and whether any change in policy is contemplated?

21. General Sir IVOR PHILIPPS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any recent decision has been come to by the War Cabinet or the Army Council on the question of promotion to the higher rank irrespective of whether the officers concerned belong to the Old Army, the Territorial Force, or the New Armies; and, if so, what such decision is?

Mr. MACPHERSON

It has never been the policy of the Army Council to debar officers of the New Armies from the higher appointments. On the contrary, all officers, whether Regular, Special Reserve, Territorial Force, or New Army, are on the same list for appointments, and are selected solely in accordance with merit. This has been the uniform policy of the Army Council.

During the last eighteen months six officers of the New Army who have been commissioned since the outbreak of War have been appointed to command Infantry brigades, and one was appointed previously. The dates of the appointments of these seven officers is as follows:

June, 1916;

January, 1917 (two);

April, 1917;

November, 1917 (two);

December, 1917;

from which it will be seen that the ratio of such appointments is on an ascending scale, and, as New Army officers gain in experience, will no doubt continue. so.

Colonel YATE

Have not a lot of lieutenants who have got their commissions since the outbreak of the War been appointed to command battalions? Can the hon. Gentleman say how many cases of that have occurred?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I cannot. As the House knows well from its experience, a very large number indeed of New Army lieutenants are now commanding battalions.

Sir IVOR PHILIPPS

Do we understand that there is no change really in the policy of the Government in this matter?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Not so far as the Army Council is concerned.

23. Sir CHARLES HENRY

asked whether a modification of the present Regulations will be considered in order that members of the Territorial Force before the War who are now officers, and also officers of the New Army, who desire, with the approval of their commanding officers, to join the Regular Army, can do so and retain their present rank?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Every case is considered on its merits, and officers are given rank in the Regular Army according to their qualifications and to their length of service as compared with that of the officers of the Regular unit to which they are transferred.

Mr. WATT

Is it officers of the Regular Army who sit on that body and pass these men into the Army?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I am not quite sure, but if my hon. Friend will put down a question, I will inquire.