§ Captain D. HALLasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that Sergeant Buckland, 8th Hants, Isle of Wight Rifles, joined in January 1915, being an old soldier, having served through the South African War; that after a few months in this battalion he gained the rank of sergeant and that he kept this rank for eighteen months; and that he joined the 1st Battalion in Egypt, and as soon as he arrived there he was reduced to the rank of lance-corporal; if the War Office let it be known some time ago that when a man had kept his rank for eighteen months he was on joining another unit to retain that rank; and, if so, will he explain why Sergeant Buckland was reduced to the rank of lance-corporal along with many other non-commissioned officers who were sent to Egypt?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAs this man re-enlisted into a T.F. unit he had no claim to his former rank. As he was later given the acting rank of sergeant, he was correctly reverted on proceeding abroad with a draft, if there was no vacancy for him as a sergeant in his new battalion. I think my hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension in supposing that any understanding or promise was given of the kind which he mentions.