§ 8. Major HILLSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider his decision not to allow service with the Territorial Force Reserve to count towards the Territorial Force decoration, for while the rule might properly apply to officers voluntarily placing themselves on the reserve for their own convenience it inflicts a great hardship on officers compulsorily placed on the reserve owing to wounds or illness contracted on service, and especially where 227 an officer on recovery applies to be restored to the establishment but is unable to find employment?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Regulations do not admit of time served on the Territorial Force Reserve counting towards the qualifying period of service for the Territorial decoration, unless the officer is actively employed. I regret that no exceptions can be made to this rule.
§ Major Earl WINTERTONMay I ask whether it is a fact that an officer who served in the Territorial Force before the War and went on the Reserve a few months before the War and afterwards rejoined the Territorial Force cannot count war service as double towards obtaining the Territorial decoration, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some hardship is caused by that ruling?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI was not aware that that was the case, but I will investigate the facts now I am informed of them by my Noble Friend.
§ Earl WINTERTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I made an application on those lines? I served 13 years in the Territorials before the War, left it for the Reserve three months before the War broke out, and rejoined, and was not entitled to any decoration.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is not a moment for autobiography.