§ 25. Mr. Burdenasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what was the result of the Board of Inquiry set up by the Admiralty to look into the use of naval signal rockets at a Guy Fawkes party at Chatham on 4th November.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThe Board of Inquiry has reported that this was a private party organised by a number of officers of H.M.S. "Pembroke". It has been established that a number of Service signal rockets and other fireworks were improperly used they have since been fully paid for.
The Admiralty is much concerned and greatly regrets that this incident was a cause of apprehension by any of the neighbours of H.M.S. "Pembroke". Disciplinary action has been taken in the case of two naval officers.
§ Mr. BurdenIs my hon. Friend aware that the biggest and possibly the most painful rocket from this incident is the reprimand which has been levelled at the officer concerned who, no doubt, will have to pay from his own pocket, and so would he give an undertaking that the result of this exuberance will not be shown on his records?
§ Mr. Orr-EwingNo. I am afraid I cannot give that undertaking. What I can say is that if the officer is good enough he can live this reprimand down, believe that a number of Sea Lords have eventually got to the Board of Admiralty after receiving reprimands of this sort. So the reprimand can be lived down if one is good enough.