2. Colonel BURNasked the Secretary of State for War if it is intended to grant a medal to those old non-commissioned officers who joined as instructors in answer to the call of the late Lord Kitchener, and who have trained men continuously throughout the War?
§ The SECRETARY Of STATE for WAR (Mr. Churchill)A full statement as to the award of medals for service during the present War will be published shortly. The claims of the non-commissioned officers referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend have not been overlooked.
4. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether the general service war medal ribbon has already been issued to many units; whether it has up to the present been given to the London Territorials serving overseas; and, if not, whether he will immediately take steps for the issue of the ribbon to this body of men so that they may be able to wear it on the occasion of their march through London?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo issues of the ribbon for the British War Medal have yet been made. It is hoped to commence issue at an early date.
§ 22. Captain HACKINGasked the Secre-of State for War if, in view of the dissatisfaction felt throughout the country at the delay in the issue of the 1914–15 star war medals to soldiers, or those dependants legally entitled to receive them, he will give immediate instructions to have the preparation of the medal rolls hastened and the issue of medals carried out without more delay?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe delay in completing the rolls has been due to the fact that the Record Offices have been fully occupied with demobilisation work. Now that this work has decreased, every effort will be made to expedite matters.
§ 24. Lieutenant-Colonel POWNALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is yet in a position to give a decision with regard to the issue of a medal to Territorials who were serving on the 4th August, 1914, and who volunteered for foreign service?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am not in a position to make a statement at the moment, but I hope to be able to do so very shortly.
§ 27. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, considering that the Admiralty on the 23rd August, 1918, in gazetting the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an officer of the Royal Indian Marine, specially stated that the award was for valuable services in the defence of Kut-el-Amara, there is any objection on the part of the War Office similarly to distinguish between awards for the defence of Kut and awards for services rendered in connection with other military operations in Mesopotamia?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to his question of the 9th April, in which he was informed that it is customary when gazetting awards for services in the field to specify the theatre of operations only, without indicating the actual place or action in respect of which the awards were conferred. If we were to republish the Kut rewards in the manner suggested, we could not consistently refuse to publish similar details in the case, for example, of rewards for the Battles of Ypres, the Gallipoli landing, the Battle of the Somme, and so on. In fact, it would mean republishing practically all the old "Gazettes," which is quite impraticable.
§ Colonel YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman tell me about how many awards have been granted for the defence?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI could only do that in answer to a question.
§ Colonel YATEI will put down a question.