§ 70. Lieut. - Colonel POWNALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether the Army Council is still in. favour of the issue of a special medal to pre-war Territorials who volunteered in 1914 for service overseas; if not, will he state the reasons for this change of view; and, if it is still in favour, will he state when the necessary Army Council Instruction will be issued?
Captain GUESTThere has been no change of view, but I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject at the moment.
§ Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLCan the hon. Gentleman say when he will be in a position to make a statement?
Captain GUESTNo. The most important part of the reply is that the Army Council has not changed its point of view.
72. Captain COOTEasked the Secretary of State for War whether volunteers for the Army are now being declined; and, if so, for what reason, in view of the fact that many conscripts are still retained with the Colours who could be replaced by such volunteers?
Captain GUESTSoldiers serving overseas, being eligible for demobilisation, who volunteer to continue serving with the Armies of Occupation, are accepted for such further service provided recognised vacancies exist in the establishment of the 410 corps to which they belong. Similar procedure is in force in the case of soldiers serving at home; vacancies exist, however, only in certain administrative corps. Demobilisable soldiers serving in other corps were recently given an opportunity of volunteering to transfer to a corps in which vacancies exist, but the applications received amounted to forty-two only out of a total of approximately 80,000 eligible personnel.
Captain GUESTOn the face of it that is very unlikely. The voluntary Army is being recruited at full speed.