Captain COOTEasked the Secretary of State for War for what reason a soldier recalled to the colours for service in the late war is eligible for service pension if disabled in the late war, but not otherwise unless his total service in Army Reserve and with the colours is over 21 years; and whether he is aware that service in A Reserve and Section D is not allowed to count as qualifying service unless the soldier has been awarded a disablement pension.
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§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONA disabled soldier is eligible for a service pension after a shorter period of service than a soldier not disabled simply because his military career is cut short by his disability and he has given a certain amount of service (14 years), which, in these circumstances, it is considered should entitle him to a permanent pension. The rules as to service in Sections A (or B) and D of the Reserve are not quite so simple as is stated by my hon. and gallant Friend. Under the old Warrant a soldier mobilised from Section A or Section B counted all service in those sections as qualifying. If invalided after rejoining from Section D, the whole of his First-Class Army Reserve service counted as qualifying, but not otherwise. Under the new Warrant, Army Order 125 of 1919, only colour service counts as qualifying service.