Political punch-up in parliament
Westminster, 28 July 1917 - The Cork Examiner reports that two MPs came to blows outside the House of Commons to resolve an argument started during the day’s proceedings.
Major Martin Archer-Shee took exception to both the tone and the content of a speech made by Noel Pemberton-Billing on the condition of the military air service. Archer-Shee accused him of making ‘a gross, insulting attack’ on officers using ‘offensive… and caddish language’. Mr Pemberton-Billing responded: ‘If the hon. member wishes to be offensive to me personally I hope he would repeat it outside in the Lobby, so that I may be able to deal with it.’
Archer-Shee took him up on that offer at 10.30 in the Palace Yard, although the Cork Examiner says that while the altercation did become physical, it could in no way be described as a ‘fight’.
Obviously unsatisfied by the result of the skirmish, Pemberton-Billing has today published an open letter to Major Archer-Shee challenging him to a 20-round contest under the Marquis of Queensbury rules, the loser of which would donate £200 to the British Red Cross.
In response to this challenge, the Major said that he is not in the habit of boxing in public for money and, as he is returning to the trenches, the best way to resolve the matter would be for Mr Pemberton-Billing to join the military as ‘it is a pity that the country should be deprived of your services in the field at this juncture.’
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
