§ 10. General McCALMONTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether all officers who are permitted voluntarily to resign their commissions are entitled to retain the rank held on retirement, or whether the Army Council is allowed to exercise discretion in the matter; whether regimental officers who hold temporary acting rank for the command of troops, but who subsequently revert through no fault of their own on the arrival of a senior officer, will be granted the higher rank on retirement; and whether such instructions will be issued as will prevent gentlemen, who for various reasons are granted higher ranks than those for which their military service and experience fit them, from being granted on retirement the same privileges as are conferred on those who have earned their rank by military merit and service?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAll officers on ceasing to hold their commissions will be granted permission to retain their rank provided they have held such rank for six months and that their services have been satisfactory throughout the time they were in the Army. It is not proposed to make any distinction such as suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend in the last part of his question. Acting rank will count if it has been held for six months.
§ General McCALMONTIs the Army Council deliberately going to benefit the non-fighting officer against the fighting officer owing to the fact that the fighting, officer loses his rank very often through wounds?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI do not think my hon. and gallant Friend can think that because we only give appointments to non-fighting officers who are thoroughly efficient at their work.
§ General McCALMONTDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the fighting officer very often loses rank through fighting, and the non-fighting officer does not?—It is so.