HC Deb 12 April 1927 vol 205 c195
88. Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that petty officers and leading ratings of the Royal Navy are considered senior to sergeants and corporals of the Army, yet in the Fleet Air Arm they are placed in subordinate positions and are told that they are junior to the sergeants and corporals of the Royal Air Force, and that some doubt and dissatisfaction arise through this state of affairs, he can see his way to define by an Admiralty Fleet Order the status of naval ratings employed as personnel in the Fleet Air Arm?

Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAM

The position is that Chief Petty Officers rank with Colour Sergeants and Staff Sergeants in the Army and Flight Sergeants, Royal Air Force; that Petty Officers rank with Sergeants in the Army and Royal Air Force; that Leading Rates rank with, but junior to, Corporals and Bombadiers in the Army and Corporals in the Royal Air Force. The Ring's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions will be amended to make the matter clear.