§ 67. Mr. HOGGEasked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he will explain why airmen are not permitted to wear chevrons for service?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE to the AIR MINISTRY (Major Baird)The Air Council have very carefully considered the question of chevrons, and the conditions of service in the Royal Air Force have been found to make it impossible to conform to the practice adopted either in the Navy or the Army without inflicting injustice.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes that order mean that members of the Air Force are not entitled to wear these chevrons?
§ Major BAIRDThey cannot wear them with the blue uniform.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIs it the fact that officers and men who have served in the Army and France, and have earned the chevrons, are now compelled to take them off?
§ Major BAIRDThe men who were engaged in the defence of London, and did night work, but did not go overseas, would not be entitled to wear the chevrons, but the men engaged in anti-submarine work would be entitled to do so. If we adopt either the Navy or the Army principle inevitably great injustice would be done.
§ Mr. HOGGEMay I ask what steps the Air Ministry are going to take to induce airmen to utilise the new uniforms if they know that by using them they cannot wear these chevrons?
§ Major BAIRDAs far as the men are concerned, the uniforms will be issued in 1607 due course; and as far as officers are concerned, they will get the new uniforms when the old ones are worn out.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSI repeat my question whether officers and men who have earned their chevrons with the Army in France are compelled to take them oft when they join the Air Force?
§ Major BAIRDI have answered that question. They cannot wear the chevrons with the new Air Force uniform.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSWhy not—they have earned them?
§ General McCALMONTIs there any reason why the War Office should not issue orders that men serving in Air Squadrons should be entitled to chevrons?
§ Major BAIRDThat is a matter of opinion. The chevrons were given for service overseas, and service for home defence in London is not overseas.
§ Sir C. HENRYCan the hon. Gentleman say definitely why, when they get the new uniforms, they have to abandon earned chevrons?
§ Major BAIRDI endeavoured to answer that. It is because the terms of service in the Royal Naval Air Force entitled men to chevrons which would not entitle them in service in the old Royal Air Force and in the Flying Corps in the past, and therefore the chevrons would have a totally different meaning.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSI will call attention to this matter again.