Lieutenant-Colonel BUCKLEYasked the Secretary of State for War if an officer of the Special Reserve, Territorial 1221W Force or New Army, who during his service had held acting rank from time to time for periods exceeding six months in the aggregate is entitled to retain this rank on demobilisation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe answer is in the negative, so long as an officer retains his commission on the Active List. The conditions under which retention of rank is granted are laid down in Army Order 376 of 1918. Under this Army Order an officer can only be granted rank on the termination of his commission or relegation to unemployment. To grant such rank to an officer holding a permanent commission in the Special Reserve or Territorial Force on demobilisation would involve the supersession of his brother officers who continued to serve. The same would apply in the case of an officer holding a temporary commission if enhanced rank were granted before he actually relinquished his commission.