A MILITARY PUZZLE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1928, Page 7

A MILITARY PUZZLE

“BONA-FIDE SCOTSMEN.” What constitutes a bona fide Scotsman? The question has arisen in consequence of the telegram sent by - the War Office authorities to the Aldershot Command, stating tliat until further notice only bona fide Scotsmen are to be recruited ina-th© Scots Guard. In • military circles the definition of a bona fide Scotsman?” was made at the Central London Recruiting Depot, Whitehall. An officer there immediately replied. “A man born of Scottish parents is a bona fide Scotsman, no matter where he was horn. The question was then asked whether tliis test would he applied to recruits for the Scots Guards and a man, if one of his parents were Scottish and the other English, be refused for the re.giment. The officer was unable to give an immediate decision on this point. An application in a case such as that referred to, would, he said, not 'be refused, but it would be deferred for inquiry.

A solution of the problem created by the new order was next sought at the regimental headquarters of the Scots Guards. But even there it did not appear that the question which had arisen could be easily answered. No written description of what constitutes a bona,fide Scotsman seemed to he available. Captain Dudley Woollan, the regimental adjutant, gave his view on the subject, which was as follows:—“For recruiting purposes. a bona fide Scotsman would be a man who was born in Scotland, or a man born anywhere, whose father was a Scotsman.” Captain Woollan added that a similar order had been in force before, and no doubtfid cases had occurred.