§ 20. Mr. HUNTasked what was the average number of recruits taken for the Volunteers during the last four completed years of their existence; and what is the average number of recruits taken for the Territorial Force for the four years ending 30th September, 1909, 1910, 1911, and 1912?
§ Colonel SEELYThe average number of Volunteers joining as recruits, or with previous service, for the last four years of their existence amounted to 56,635, and of Yeomanry to 5,276, amounting in all to 61,911. The average number of men joining the Territorial Force as recruits, or with previous service, amounted to 67,164 for the years in question. The figures for the Volunteers include officers and transfers from other units.
§ 23. Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked how many men the War Office, from their experience of previous years, reasonably expect to obtain to fill the estimated number of 191,286 vacancies by recruiting and by men re-engaging, respectively?
§ Colonel SEELYIt is not quite clear how the hon. Gentleman arrives at the figure quoted, but he appears to have counted some men twice over. It is very difficult, in view of the exceptionally large number of men due to go during the year, to give even an approximate estimate of the figure required, and I do not think I can 191 usefully add anything to the information given by the Government on the subject in another place on 10th February last.