§ 24. Mr. THORNEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the House any information in connection with the case of Guardsman R. W. Branch, of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who was court-martialled for insubordination; and whether he can state the reason why the charge was made and what sentence was passed?
Mr. COOPERGuardsman Branch was found guilty by a district court-martial of disobeying a lawful command, and was sentenced by the court for this, and for an earlier offence, to which he pleaded guilty, of conduct to the prejudice of 1296 good order and military discipline, to 28 days' detention. Fourteen days of the sentence were subsequently remitted.
§ Mr. THORNEIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that Guardsman Branch was found not guilty of offering violence to his superior officer; that Private Curry knocked the Guardsman's head through a window; that the Guardsman was damaged very badly, and produced a blood-stained towel in court to prove that Private Curry had done this to him; and is it the duty of a superior officer to strike a private?
Mr. COOPERPrivate Curry is not a superior officer to anybody, but I have looked closely into the facts. There was a slight divergence of testimony, and the court-martial had to decide upon the facts that were presented to them, and I am satisfied that there was no miscarriage of, justice.
§ Mr. PILKINGTONIs it not the fact that the publicity caused by a question such as this is not particularly good for the maintenance of discipline?