§ 64. Mr. WALTER GUINNESSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether members of the Territorial Force, who by signing Army Form E 624 A undertake liability to be transferred to other corps or units, will be liable to forfeit membership or substantive rank in their original corps or unit in the event of such transfer being made?
§ Mr. TENNANTIn the case of Territorial soldiers, the question of retransfer will be dealt with in the spirit of the second proviso in Clause 1 of the Army Transfers Act, 1915, which allows regular soldiers to be retransferred after the conclusion of the present War, if they so desire, to the corps in which they were serving at the time of their transfer. As far as possible a soldier transferred under Army Form E 624 A will be entitled to take on retransfer the rank which he originally held.
§ Mr. W. GUINNESSIs it not the case that when an officer is transferred, say, to the King's African Rifles, or a non-commissioned officer to the Territorial Force Permanent Staff, they remain seconded from their regiment? Would it not be possible, therefore, in view of the strong sentimental attachment which exists among men in the Territorial Force to their regiment, to reconcile men to this new form by pursuing the same course, so that they may be certain of re-absorption at the end of the War, without losing any seniority?
§ Mr. TENNANTThat is a very technical question. I have told the hon. and gallant Gentleman that it is the intention of the War Office to transfer men back again to the unit from which they were originally transferred.
§ Mr. W. GUINNESSWithout loss of seniority?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes, without loss of seniority. That is the intention, and it is hoped it may be possible to carry out that intention.
§ Mr. W. GUINNESSCould not the right hon. Gentleman go a little further and second men, instead of definitely transferring them, in view of the fact that they are going, not of their own free will, but to meet public convenience?
§ Mr. TENNANTI shall have to consider that.