§ 20. Mr. Pagetasked the Secretary of State for War the circumstances in which William Firth was dismissed from the Territorial Army.
§ The Under-Secretary of State and Financial Secretary to the War Office (Mr. Hugh Fraser)There is a regulation that beards may not be worn in the Army and this applies to the Territorial Army during annual camps. Mr. Firth was discharged for refusing to comply.
§ Mr. PagetWho makes these regulations—Moses? Whilst it might be quite reasonable for a Regular soldier, surely it is an absurd piece of bureaucracy to require a Territorial to alter his facial arrangements for a fortnight's camp?
§ Mr. FraserThe hon. and learned Member naturally shows a Royal Navy predisposition for beards, but I might point out that in his Service they are not allowed to wear moustaches unless they wear beards. Territorial Army soldiers like to be as smart on these parades as the rest of the Army.