STRIPPED OF THEIR MEDALS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8303, 5 December 1906, Page 3

STRIPPED OF THEIR MEDALS.

SOLDIERS DISMISSED IN

DISGRACE

The warrant officers and non--commissioned officers of the Army •Service Corps who were ordered to be discharged for misconduct in connection with the war stores scandals were paraded in the corps' orderly-room at Aldershor, and the following order was read out to them ■ by the adjutant: — / "The undermentioned are discharged from the army for misconduct under paragraph 1805 of the King's Regulations this day, and His Majesty has approved of each being summarily reduced to the ranks from October 18th, 1906." ' Then followed the names of the men concerned. The men were informed that they were to be deprived of all their decorations and stripped of their medals, and that they were to return their * uniforms and change into civilian '. clothes. They were further ordered to quit "the barracks, the single men being allowed twenty-four hours in which to take their departure and the married men forty-eight hours, the extra time being given to allow them to, pack up their furniture. WHAT THE PUNISILV' E.JT MEANS, Further consequences will follow "the sentence, as no part of the deferred pay earned by the men will be given to them, neither will they receive any momentary consideration for unworn clothing. They have ■even forfeited the usual grant of £2 given to men when they leave the -arhiy. Moreover,'by the 'terms of their discharge, they can never obtain a 'Character from anyone in the service. l Major G. P. Walton, M.C., who -has been retired, the only officer at Aldershot affected by the War Office order, was informed privately of the •decision, and he at once, as requested, placed his resignation in the hands of the commanding officer. He leaves the army with a retiring allowance. Staff-Sergeant Beaven, one of the men discharged, would have received a commission many months ago but . for the result of the inquiry into the scandals. He has now not only lost the promotion, with its consequent rise in pay, but has had to surrender all he has earned during twenty-two years' service, as well as six medals, which include the medal for meritorious services in the field and the medal for long service and good conduct.