§ 14. Sir RICHARD COOPERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many decorations of the Serbian White Eagle were asked for by His Majesty's Government; and how many of these were awarded to officers and men who had seen active service in the Balkans?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid I do not quite understand the first part of my hon. Friend's question. In no circumstances 1268 are decorations solicited from an Allied country. His Majesty the King of Serbia has conferred on members of the Army 424 decorations of the various classes of the Serbian Order of the White Eagle. Of this total, 145 awards have been made to officers and men who have served, or are still serving, in the Balkans.
§ Sir R. COOPERDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise what a great injustice this is to our fighting men that three-fourths of these honours are given to men who sit at home?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAs far as I can make out, only thirty-five were given to men who were serving at home.
§ Captain CARR-GOMMIs it not a fact that the first issue of these orders was received for the most part by officers serving on the Staff in Cairo who had then never seen Serbia at all?
§ Mr. H. LAWWere any of these decorations conferred upon a battalion of the Connaught Rangers who has done very good service?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI assent to what the hon. Member says, that the battalion in question did extraordinarily good service, but I cannot possibly say at present whether any distinctions were given to them or not.