§ 53. Mr. Willisasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the circumstances in which it was possible for an Army deserter to masquerade as a naval rating for three days in the Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThe Army absentee in question had previously served in the Royal Navy. He entered the barracks with the assistance of a naval rating whom he had known previously and who subsequently provided him with naval uniform. He was able to pass himself off as a rating due to his own naval experience and by meeting previous shipmates who assumed he was still in the Royal Navy. Disciplinary action has been taken against the naval rating.