HC Deb 30 March 1903 vol 120 cc561-2
MAJOR SEELY (Isle of Wight)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the new conditions of recruiting regarding character and physique have been issued, and will he state the precise terms of the order.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

It was notified on February 27th that no recruits for Infantry should now be enlisted under the standard of age, height, or chest measurement. The raising of the standard for other arms was carried out by Army Order of March 1st. As regards character I cannot give the whole of the instructions, but the first and main instruction is that no man is to be accepted for any branch of the Regular Army, or Militia, who cannot produce a satisfactory reference as to his character and antecedents.