HC Deb 16 November 1914 vol 68 cc202-3
68. Mr. HUNT

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that, in the case of Reserve Territorial regiments, one of the great difficulties in getting men to sign on to go abroad is that the men greatly object to being seat in driblets to other units instead of going out with their own friends and under their own officers; and whether the War Office could lay down a rule that in a Reserve regiment in which a certain large majority signed on to go abroad they should be considered a complete unit and, if sent abroad, should be sent together under their own officers?

Mr. TENNANT

The object the hon. Member has in view is not lost sight of, and when reinforcements are required from the Home Service unit for the Imperial Service unit the number asked for, if available, are sent out under their own officers to the Imperial Service unit, wherever that may be. The size of the draft sent has, of course, to bear relation to the number of men asked for.