ARMY (AUXILIARY FORCES) – THE 4TH EAST YORK ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS.

House of Commons Debate [Thursday] 8 July 1880,
As reported by Hansard vol 253 cc 1909-10 1909

[Please note that, in the interests of clarity, I have paragraphed the questions asked, and the reply given; the original paragraph symbols § are therefore omitted, though the 'waypoint' links 1909 - 1910 are retained]

MR. NORWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for War,

Whether he can now state the result of the inquiry held at Hull, on the 25th ultimo, into the proceedings of the 4th East York Artillery Volunteers on the 16th June last;

and, whether he is prepared to institute a searching inquiry into all the circumstances which have led to the affair above referred to, in compliance with the request made to Her Majesty's Government, by a Resolution of the Hull Town Council at a special meeting?

MR. CHILDERS

Before answering this Question I may be allowed to correct an inaccuracy in the reply which I gave to a former Question on this subject.

I said that in 1879 Colonel Saner and three other officers brought certain charges against Colonel Humphrey. Colonel Saner wrote to me as to this reply, and on looking into the Papers I am satisfied that he was not one of those who preferred the charges, but that he only forwarded them.

In reply to my hon. Friend, I have to state that the result 1910 of the inquiry held at Hull on the 25th of June into the proceedings of the 16th of June was that Lord Londesborough, the hon. Colonel of the regiment, whose resignation was withdrawn at my request and that of the Commander-in-Chief, went to Hull and notified, on the 5th instant, to the corps the decision that Her Majesty dispensed with the services of Colonel Humphrey and three other officers.

Lord Londesborough, from whom we are receiving every assistance, has been requested to recommend a new lieutenant-colonel commandant and other officers for the present vacancies.

As to my hon. Friend's second Question, I do not clearly understand what inquiry the Town Council of Hull desire unless it be that I should review my Predecessor's decisions. That I am not prepared to do; but if, when the vacancies in the corps are filled up and matters are in a more settled state, my hon. Friend will move for the Papers I think I shall be able to give them.

LORD ELCHO

said, he read in the newspapers that when these officers were dismissed as the result of the inquiry they were cheered by the men upon the breaking up of the meeting. That was a grave matter as regarded discipline, and he wished to know whether it was true.

MR. CHILDERS

said, he should hesitate to answer that Question without Notice.

He thought he had read in the newspapers something to the effect stated by the noble Lord; but it did not appear, if he remembered rightly, in the report of the officer from York who was present on that occasion, because, as he understood, the matter occurred after the officer had dismissed the corps.

Considering the present condition of affairs, His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief and himself did not think it necessary to institute an inquiry.