HC Deb 16 July 1906 vol 160 cc1308-9
MR. HUNT (Shropshire, Ludlow)

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that Yeomanry are mounted infantry, as distinct from cavalry, and that at present Yeomanry have to learn their drill from the cavalry drill book, much of which is quite useless and some of it quite wrong for mounted infantry, so that it has to be corrected by various supplementary papers, causing confusion and difficulty, and in view of the fact that Yeomanry training is extremely short, he will, in the interest of Yeomanry officers, non commissioned officers, and men, consider the advantage of issuing a drill book containing plain definite instructions for Yeomanry training.

(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Imperial Yeomanry are not included in the category of mounted infantry but are trained to be capable of performing all the duties allotted to cavalry except those connected with shock action. Their role is clearly donned in the instructions for the training of Imperial Yeomanry which were drawn up after very careful consideration. No confusion or difficulty, has been created, and no complaints of the present methods of instruction have been received at the War Office from the general officers commanding in chief.