§ Mr. RONALD McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War if, in the opinion of recruiting sergeants, it would be an incentive to recruiting if the men serving with the Colours at home who are entitled to medals were able to wear them; and, seeing that numbers of men so entitled have not yet received their medals, whether he will expedite the distribution of medals, giving priority to men serving with the Colours in the United Kingdom?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONIt is realised that it would be most desirable for men now serving with the Colours to receive their medals forthwith, but I regret that to give priority of issue to them would only result in undue delay. It would be necessary to ascertain the names of those now serving; to locate them on the medal rolls on which their names were submitted—in many cases rolls of corps other than those in which the men are at present serving; to record the issue; and finally to despatch the medals piecemeal. Such an arrangement would seriously interfere with the smooth working of the "bulk" issues which it is essential to maintain when dealing with such very large numbers.