Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 18 July 1923.
Captain Denis Shipwright
, Penryn and Falmouth
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that British war medals were given to those who served on the coast defence batteries, and that the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Anti-Aircraft Section were awarded the same medal for operations against enemy aircraft in London and for Home stations, there is any reason why it should not be given to the Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, and Royal Air Force units for precisely similar services?
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.