§ Colonel GREIGasked the Secretary of State for War whether a man who served in the Territorial Force from 3rd March, 1910, to 4th March, 1914, and re-enlisted on 5th October, 1914, for service overseas, and served until 14th December, 1918, is entitled to the medal recently authorised for Territorials?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAn Army Order stating the conditions governing the award of this medal will be published at an early date. I may say, however, that in a case such as that mentioned, the man would not be eligible for the medal.
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§ Colonel GREIGasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, owing to the regulations governing the awarding of the Territorial long-service medal, dissatisfaction is caused amongst those men whose four years in the Territorial Force terminated early in 1914 and who rejoined in that year, but are not allowed to count their war service double in claiming for the long-service medal; and whether, as the Territorial Force is to remain part of the Army, such men will be treated as coming under Army Order 293, of 1915. paragraph 523 (b) (c), like the Volunteers and Yeomanry?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs already stated in answer to questions in this House, the matter was fully considered at the time when the changes in the conditions of the award of the medal were made and it was decided that the privilege should be limited to those men who were actually in the Territorial Force at the outbreak of war. With regard to the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, the men referred to can, of course, count a period of embodied service in any one year as the equivalent of a "training," but no departure from the rule as to continuity of service can be admitted.