§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Secretary of State for War if those Army pensioned ranker officers now receiving their service pensions from the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, but whose names are recorded on the roll of the Reserve of Officers, will, in the event of a national emergency, be recalled as officers or be 2953W required to re-enlist as private soldiers; will he say if Army pensioned ranker officers who are not members of the Reserve of Officers are now liable to recall as officers; if not, whether they would be again invited to re-enlist, in the first instance, as private soldiers; and whether he will give the reference to the present Regulation?
§ Mr. WALSHThe hon. and gallant Member appears to proceed on the supposition that the question whether an ex-ranker officer is in receipt of a soldier's pension or not has some connection with his membership of the Reserve of Officers and with his liability to recall on emergency. This is not the case. All ex-temporary officers who hold commissions in the Reserve of Officers are liable to recall as officers on emergency. No ex-temporary officers who do not hold such commissions are liable to recall in any capacity. These principles apply to ex-ranker temporary officers amongst the rest, but the acceptance by any such officer of a commission in the Reserve of Officers is purely voluntary, and the question whether he is in receipt of a pension or not has no bearing on the matter. The question of whether, and in what rank, an ex-officer not liable to recall might nevertheless be invited to rejoin on emergency would depend on his age, health, wishes and other circumstances of the individual case. The main relevant Regulations are Articles 519 and 660 to 669 of the Pay Warrant.