MR. W. F. B. MASSEY-MAIN-WARING (Finsbury, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the great unpopularity with both officers and men of the present regimental names; and, whether he will consider the restoration to the battalions of the line of their time-honoured numbers?
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTBefore my hon. Friend answers, I should like to ask him if it is not a fact that when infantry regiments of the line had numerals, they almost invariably tried to discard them in favour of their national or territorial titles, and if such national and territorial titles are not of infinite advantage in promoting local interest in regiments and stimulating esprit de corps?
*MR. POWELL-WILLIAMSThere is no reason to think that the territorial titles of regiments are unpopular, though 404 the old system of numbering regiments like all old traditions does not die easily. With the territorial system, which has now become firmly established, a return to the old system of numbering regiments is impossible. With regard to the supplemental question, I have only to say I believe there is some accuracy in the description which my hon. Friend gave of the difficulty that there was in getting soldiers absolutely to adopt the numerical system. There is a consensus of military opinion that any return to the old system is not only undesirable but absolutely impracticable.