§ DR. THOMPSON (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many men were supplied from the Militia Reserve to their linked Line battalions during the late war in South Africa; also how many men of the Militia Reserve fought in the actions of Colenso, Pieter's Hill, and Spion Kop.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary ArnoldForster.) 13,014 Militia Reserve were posted to Line battalions during the late war in South Africa; a large majority to their linked battalions, but some few to other corps. The exact number of the latter cannot be stated without reference to each Militia unit. No men of the Militia Reserve were at Colenso, as they were not called up till December 1899. 440 Militia Reserve were posted to battalions which fought at Spion Kop, and 1,041 to battalions which fought at Pieter's Hill, but it cannot be definitely stated how many were present at each engagement.