§ 34. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for War, in connection with the Army Service Corps in France, if he will state what grades of officers are allowed riding horses, and what proportion of grooms are allowed to each of such officers; whether this allowance of horses and grooms exceeds that usual for similar work in the French Army; and, if so, will he consider the advisability of cutting down the allowance?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAdministrative officers at General Headquarters and headquarters of formations larger than a division are allowed horses at the average rate of one horse to two officers. This applies only to officers who deal with horse transport; other Army Service Corps officers in this category are not allowed horses. Each officer serving with an Army Service Corps Horse Transport Unit is allowed one horse, and officers commanding Divisional Trains and Headquarters Cavalry Divisional Army Service Corps are allowed two horses. Officers of Mechanical Transport or Supply Units are not allowed horses. Grooms are allotted on a scale which allows one groom to each officer entitled to two horses. In the case of officers entitled to one horse only the duties of groom are performed by their batmen.
There is no service in the French Army corresponding exactly to our Army Service Corps, the duties being included in the French Intendance Service. I understand that, before the War, all officers of the Intendance from captain upwards were mounted and were allowed one groom, but that since 1915 the only mounted officer of the Intendance of a Division is the 310 Intendant Divisionaire (Colonel), who is allowed one horse and one groom. In the Army zone, however, a large number of officers of the Intendance who are employed on special duty are allowed one horse and one groom. In the zone of the Interior no officers are mounted, but are provided, if necessary, with motor cars.