§ General McCALMONTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an officer who was given a temporary commission as captain without previous military experience has recently been allowed to retire, and has been granted the honorary rank of major for life after a few months' service entirely spent on the Staff; whether officers who are granted acting rank to command fighting troops and subsequently revert on the arrival of a senior officer will be entitled to a similar privilege for their temporary higher rank; and whether steps will be taken to ensure that honours of this kind shall be restricted to cases of full combatant service?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAny officer who held the rank of major for six months, and whose service throughout the time he was in the Army was satisfactory, would on ceasing to hold a commission be granted 1627W permission to retain his rank. I am afraid I cannot accept the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend in the last part of his question. That would exclude from the rule all officers whose entire service had not been in the capacity of regimental officers.