§ 25. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many naval cadets were discharged from Dartmouth at the commencement of the War and placed on board ship; and how many of these have since been killed in action?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Churchill)The answer to the first part of the question is 434. Of this number I am very sorry to say that 23 have lost their lives in action. The chance of war has fallen with exceptional severity in the early stages on the ships of the reserve Fleets.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDoes the right hon. Gentleman include those in the "Monmouth" in that number? There were ten in the "Monmouth." I think there must be a mistake.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Return has been compiled from headquarters. It may be so.
§ 26. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the reasons which influenced the Admiralty in sending the naval cadets from Dartmouth on board ship at the commencement of the War; and whether he proposes that they should return to complete their education after the War is over?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe decision to send the naval cadets from Dartmouth to sea in time of war was arrived at a considerable time ago. It was felt that young officers of their age would be of great use on board His Majesty's ships, and that they would learn incomparably more of their profession in war than any educational establishment on shore could teach them. They are a regular part of the ship's complement. The question as to whether these young officers should return to Dartmouth after the War is over must depend upon circumstances, and in particular upon the duration of the War. I do not think it is at all likely.
§ 27. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he intends to send at the end of each term at Dartmouth a fresh supply of naval 184 cadets on to the Fleet, or whether he proposes that those boys now entering Dartmouth should complete their education in the ordinary way?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is not intended to send any cadets from Dartmouth to sea at the end of the present term, and drafting in the future will depend on the requirements of the Fleet. The syllabus of their education is being arranged accordingly.
§ 28. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what date were the naval cadets on the "Aboukir," "Hogue," and "Cressy" promoted midshipmen, and by whose orders did such promotions take place?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe surviving cadets of the "Aboukir" were rated midshipmen from the 22nd September by order of the Admiralty. The cadets of the "Hogue" were rated by their captain from the 2nd August. The cadets of the "Cressy" were understood to have been rated midshipmen by their captain immediately prior to the loss of the ship, but the report did not reach the Admiralty. The captain having been lost, the Admiralty ordered the surviving cadets to be rated midshipmen from the 22nd September.