HC Deb 06 April 1897 vol 48 cc619-20
Mr. HUBERT DUNCOMBE () Cumberland, Egremont

I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for War whether cavalry regiments on changing stations (H.M.O.) are directed to leave their horses behind them?

MR. BRODRICK

Cavalry regiments moving between England and Ireland leave behind them the old horses and their youngest remounts. Cavalry regiments, on change of station in Great Britain or in Ireland, take all their horses with them.

MR. DUNCOMBE

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, in an order recently issued by the Inspector General of Cavalry, it is directed that cavalry men on active service are to wear jack boots only, and are not to carry ankle boots also, as in Home marching order?

MR. BRODRICK

On active service the ankle boots of men belonging to cavalry regiments are not carried by the men, but in the squadron carts, in order to lighten the weight on the horses.

MR. DUNCOMBE

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, under a recent War Office letter, men belonging to cavalry regiments are directed, when changing stations (H.M.O.), to carry their tunics in their horses' nosebags?

MR. BRODRICK

In order to save the tunics from wear on the march men belonging to cavalry regiments are directed to carry them in their horses' nosebags. They are thus available for wear at any halting-place.

MAJOR RASCH () Essex, S.E.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, in view of the fact that the cavalry has been reorganised into three service squadrons, with each squadron a major's command, will he state whether the regulations affecting seconded majors apply to cavalry, under these conditions, i.e., that when a major is seconded a captain is promoted to fill the vacancy?

MR. BRODRICK

Existing regulations apply equally to cavalry and infantry. When a major is extra-regimentally employed he is not seconded, but the regiment is given an additional captain in his place.