§ 17 and 31. Colonel YATEasked (1) the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the 1914–15 Star will be granted to all officers and men of the 6th (Poona) Division who took part in the operations in Mesopotamia from the first landing at Busrah up to and including the siege of Kut-el-Amarah; (2) the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the 1914–15 Star will be granted to all officers and men who took part in the operations in East Africa during those years?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI think so, but perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will await the publication of the conditions of the award of the "1914–15 Star," which will be made in Army Orders very shortly.
§ Colonel YATEIs the ribbon of the 1915 Star to be the same as that of the 1914 Star?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONYes, Sir.
§ Colonel YATEWill there, then, be no difference between the 1914 Star and the 1914–15 Star?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe ribbon is the same, but the first star will be marked "1914," and the second "1914–15."
§ Major Sir S. SCOTTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that for every time a man wears the medal he wears the ribbon a hundred times, and will there be no distinction for the men who served at Mons?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI know it is a very difficult question, and I can assure the House the Committee, which took the whole matter into its cognisance, took special precautions to find out the general feeling, and I understand the conclusion come to was unanimous.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs this a method of depreciating the value of the 1914 Star?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI do not think so, and I believe the House will agree that this is a just and genuine attempt to meet feeling all round.
§ Colonel BURNHas my right hon. Friend seen the suggestion in the Paper that the 1914 Star should be worn with red inside, and the 1914–15 with the blue inside, to mark the difference?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI can quite see there is a great diversity of opinion, and all I can promise to do is to bring the whole matter before the Committee again.