§ 6. Sir JOHN BUTCHERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state the decision of the Government 215 AS to the issue of a special decoration to those who have been mentioned in despatches during the present War?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)The matter is still under consideration, and I regret that I am unable to make any announcement at present
§ Sir J. BUTCHERCan my right hon. Friend indicate any probable date when a decision will be arrived at, as the matter is some time under consideration?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am afraid I cannot give a date.
21. Captain TUDOR-REESasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to redeem the late Lord Kitchener's promise to the Devon Territorials, which was to the effect that they would not lose anything of the War's rewards by going to India instead of France in 1914; whether he is aware that whereas even non-combatants who were in France at any time up to the end of 1915 are entitled to the 1914-15 Star, yet the Devon Territorials who went to India In 1914 and saw service later in Mesopotamia, and many of whom are still abroad on service, have been declared ineligible for the Star; and whether, with a view to bringing the men concerned within the scope of the Army Order dealing with the subject (Appendix A of Army Order 20, 1919), he will declare India to have been a theatre of war, or, if this is impossible, he will adopt some other means of awarding to these men the Star to which they are entitled, or award them a special medal in lieu of it?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe 1914-1915 Star is a commemorative token to show that the recipient has fulfilled certain specified conditions of service in a war zone. India as a whole was not a theatre of war, and men who served in India during 1914 and 1915 have not earned the Star unless they participated in the operations referred to in paragraph 5 (f) and (g) of Appendix A to Army Order 20 of 1919. Those who served in Mesopotamia between the 6th November, 1914, and 31st December, 1915, have earned the Star. The men referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend have earned the British War Medal, which is a commemorative token awarded to all who rendered approved service overseas, and those of them who served on the estab- 216 lishment of a unit in a theatre of war, within certain specified periods, have earned the Victory Modal also.
Captain TUDOR-REESHas the right hon. Gentleman considered, or will be consider, the suggestion in the last part of the question?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir; no decision has been taken on that point. It will take about four years—possibly five—to give medals to the men who have actually fought in the War, and therefore I am regarding as altogether in a secondary category the case of medals to men who did not have the opportunity of serving in a theatre of war.