HC Deb 14 March 1916 vol 80 cc1879-80
25. Mr. KING

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state the exact nature of garrison duty; whether recruits in Class IV. (a) are included in those defined as on garrison duty; whether Class IV. (a) men are set to dig trenches, make wire entanglements, and other dangerous work at the front; and whether men with defective eyesight are being placed in Class IV. (a) with a view to doing such work?

Mr. TENNANT

I am revealing no secret when I say that garrison duty implies duty in defended forts and places, and that it does not require such a high standard of activity as service in the field. Class IV. (a) includes road-making, entrenching, 'duty in works companies, etc., which is, I think, of a less dangerous nature than active fighting and does not call for such a high standard of vision as does actual fighting.