HC Deb 19 November 1914 vol 68 cc548-50
37. Mr. NEWMAN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the misunderstanding that has lately arisen between the War Office and officers and men of the National Reserve of classes I. and II. has been brought to his notice; whether the War Office considered that the classes referred to should before this have fulfilled the terms of their liability and presented themselves as individuals for enlistment for Home or Foreign service; whether he is aware that such Reservists, and especially those of Class II., were under the impression that they would in time of emergency be embodied for Home service as battalions or companies and attached to units of the Territorial Force; whether he is aware of the difficulty that is being experienced in getting those men to present themselves for attestation as individuals while eager to be mobilised in companies or battalions and serve with men of their own age and military experience; and whether he will consider the advisability of solving the difficulty by arranging that Class II. men should at once present themselves singly for attestation, be especially assigned to, and form the nucleus of any fresh Territorial battalions which may be formed in the neighbourhood where they reside?

Mr. TENNANT

This is a matter which would more easily be dealt with in Debate. No question arises, I think, regarding Class I. men, of whom the great majority are, it is believed, already serving with the Regular Army. As regards Class II., there is no reason that I know of why officers or men should have thought that they would be embodied for Home service in battalions or companies. The War Office policy has always been that the National Reserve should be used as a reservoir from which men can be drawn as required. This policy was announced at the beginning and has never been departed from. I am having the suggestion made in the last part of the question considered.

Mr. NEWMAN

In view of the importance of the question, would the Under-Secretary see me in his room after questions?

Mr. TENNANT

I should be very proud.

45. Mr. BOYTON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if there is any uniform for National Reservists who have not been called up, which they could wear to identify themselves as combatants in the event of invasion?

Mr. TENNANT

As there is no intention to employ as combatants National Reservists who have not enlisted into the Regular Army or the Territorial Force, it is not intended to issue uniforms to such men.

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

Is there any way in which they can be of any use?

Mr. TENNANT

I would like my hon. Friend to realise that most of the National Reservists in Classes 1 and 2 are serving under the Crown, and they are therefore provided with uniforms. Those who are not serving under the Crown, and whom we have no intention of using, and those not in training—of course you cannot give them uniforms.

Mr. BOYTON

What will be the position of these men in case of invasion?

Mr. TENNANT

Precisely the same position as the hon. Member's and mine.

Mr. J. WARD

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the War Office has no intention whatever of using the different contingents that are now being collected together in different parts of the country and being drilled, with equal stringency with the rest of the Army, and that they should not be used in the case of invasion and will not be recognised?

Mr. TENNANT

It depends on what contingents, as the hon. Gentleman calls them, are alluded to. I am not aware of what they are. If the hon. Gentleman will communicate with me and ask me about a definite unit I will be glad to give him an answer. I do not know to what he alludes at present.

Mr. J. WARD

If the right hon. Gentleman will go to Wandsworth Common on any Sunday morning he will see hundreds, if not thousands, of men whom the War Office do not recognise being drilled quite as efficiently as many men connected with the Army?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

May I ask whether in this particular case the National Reservists, that is, men qualified to join the National Reserve—are they to be made no use of at all in the event of invasion?

Mr. TENNANT

I would rather consider the answer to that question.