HC Deb 12 June 1899 vol 72 c899
MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War what is the official strength at Aldershot; what were the numbers present on the Queen's Birthday parade; and how were the 5,000 men absent employed.

*MR. WYNDHAM

The strength at Aldershot on 24th May amounted to 16,788 warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, and of these 11,542 were present on parade. 1,563 men of the Royal Engineers, the Army Service Corps, and the Royal Army Medical Corps were engaged on their corps duties; the East Kent Volunteer Artillery, numbering 200, and the Northumberland Fusiliers, numbering 761, were not on parade, most of the latter being on furlough. There were 747 sick. The remaining absentees, to the number of about 2,000, were on guard and other station duties.