§ 100. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if attested youths who are not nineteen years of age will be called to the Colours before they reach the age of nineteen; and if they have the option of joining the Army now or waiting at home till they reach the age of nineteen?
§ Mr. TENNANTWhether attested youths will be called to the Colours before they reach the age of nineteen or not depends upon the military needs of the future. It is not improbable that they will be so called. At present the option of joining at once or waiting at home until the age of nineteen is reached is open to them. Those who elect to join the Colours are to be trained in squads separate from the men until they reach the age of eighteen years and eight months. They will not be sent abroad before they are nineteen years of age. These are the present arrangements, and there is no intention of modifying them unless and until the military situation demands. Though it is conceivable that circumstances might arise which would make it imperative to send lads under nineteen years of age abroad, there is, as I have stated, no present intention of doing this. As regards under-age soldiers serving at home, those under seventeen years of age will be discharged, those over seventeen but under eighteen will be transferred, if willing, to Class W. Army Reserve or Class W. (T) Territorial Force Reserve. Those over eighteen but under nineteen years of ago will be posted to a Reserve unit until such time as they attain the age of nineteen years. Under-age soldiers serving with an Expeditionary Force will, if under eighteen years of age, be sent home, if willing, and posted to a Reserve unit. If over eighteen but under nineteen years of age, they will be posted to a training or other unit behind the firing line. Before 532 any action is taken in these cases the real age of the soldier will be verified by reference to his birth certificate.
§ Mr. ASHLEYCould the right hon. Gentleman say whether the age of these soldiers may be taken as their real age or the official age given when they attested?
§ Mr. TENNANTIt was to overcome the difficulty we found in accepting the given age as the real age that we have made this departure from our previous custom. We are now having recourse entirely to the birth certificate.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman make it clear, if a lad enlists while under age and gives a false age, that he will be released when the birth certificate is sent to the military authorities? There are several cases.
§ Mr. TENNANTI have just given to the House, I am afraid rather lengthily but necessarily so, the action we propose to take at various ages. If he is under seventeen he will be discharged.