HC Deb 29 March 1944 vol 398 cc1441-2
67 and 69. Mr. Lipson

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many men who have escaped from prisoners of war camps and rejoined the Foroes have been reduced in rank; and

(2) why a sergeant, of whose name he has been informed, who succeeded in escaping from an Italian prison camp to this country, has been reduced to the rank of corporal; would he have been entitled to retain the rank of sergeant if he had remained a prisoner of war; and will he consider restoring this man to his former rank.

The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Mr. Arthur Henderson)

Acting ranks and lance appointments are normally relinquished when the warrant officer or non-commissioned officer ceases to perform the duties for which the rank was given. An exception to this rule is made in favour of prisoners of war. They are allowed to retain acting rank and lance appointment during captivity and in the case of those who are repatriated direct to the United Kingdom for a further 28 days after disembarkation. It would be unfair to other warrant officers and non-commissioned officers—and would in fact impede their promotion to war substantive rank—to extend this concession indefinitely to men who have been prisoners of war and who have been posted once more to units in the Army. I regret that no figures are available showing how many prisoners of war who have escaped have lost their acting rank in these circumstances. Provided they reach the necessary standards of efficiency and there are vacancies they stand an equal chance with others to be granted higher rank and in practice they are often likely to be re-granted their acting rank when they are re-posted to their new units.

Mr. Lipson

Does the Minister not agree that it is very desirable that prisoners of war who have escaped from enemy camps should not be penalised in any way, and is he aware that this reduction in rank causes a great deal of bitter feeling?

Mr. Henderson

I naturally have sympathy with an escaped prisoner who is an N.C.O., but we must have some regard to the position of N.C.O's, who are actually doing their duty.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman not aware that the result of that is that after inducements are held out to officers and men to escape, when they have successfully escaped their emoluments are reduced?

Captain Duncan

Is the Minister not aware that the N.C.O's are much better off in this connection than the officers?

Mr. Keeling

Is the Minister aware that another Department of the War Office have issued instructions that it is the duty of prisoners of war to escape if possible and does he think that this rule is giving them any encouragement?