§ Captain CARR-GOMMasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Gunner Henry Brown, No. 20770, c/66th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, who was reduced from the rank of saddler-staff-sergeant in December, 1917, when serving 953W in the 61st Battery, Royal Field Artillery; whether he is aware that, arising out of an incident which occurred on Christmas Eve when the battery was out of the line, eight sergeants were reduced, Brown being one of the number, and that, although Brown appealed against this and asked for a court-martial, this was refused him owing to the fact that he was being dealt with under Section 183 (2) of the Army Act; and whether, in view of the intention of this Section, he will have a special inquiry made into this case?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis case has already been carefully inquired into as a result of representations made to the War Office, and I am afraid I cannot reopen the matter. A non-commissioned officer dealt with under the provisions of Section 183 (2) of the Army Act has no right to trial by court-martial.