HC Deb 06 May 1919 vol 115 cc728-9
14. Lieutenant-Colonel GUINNESS

asked the Secretary of State for War whether four Regular battalions are being reformed at Chiseldon; whether these hutments are seven miles from the nearest town and lacking in recreational facilities; whether they contain no married quarters or accommodation for families of officers; and whether he will consider the desirability of not locating Regular battalions at such a camp during the few months they will spend at home after many years of absence from their families, in the interest of recruiting for the Regular Army?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Seven regular battalions reforming for foreign service will be quartered at Chiseldon. It is fully recognised that Chiseldon is not ideal for the purpose of accommodating battalions just returned from foreign service, but as the number of Regular battalions that are being reformed exceeds the permanent barrack accommodation in the United Kingdom, 20 per cent. of such battalions have to be accommodated in temporary hutments. Chiseldon camp is in Wiltshire, and of the seven battalions at or moving to Chiseldon, six are recruited from Wiltshire, or the counties bordering Wiltshire, and the camp was chosen for the accommodation of such battalions in order that non-commissioned officers and men might be near and able to visit their homes easily. As the situation as regards permanent barrack accommodation eases, it is hoped to move some if not all of these battalions to better quarters. Meanwhile every endeavour will be made to make all ranks as comfortable as possible. There is a railway station at Chiseldon camp.

Lieutenant-Colonel GUINNESS

Is it not a fact that one of these battalions comes not from Wiltshire but from Worcestershire, and is the right hon. Gentleman giving a preference in every case in the matter of accommodation, for married quarters, to Regular units as against temporary units.

Mr. CHURCHILL

I said that six out of the seven come from Wiltshire.

Colonel ASHLEY

Are we to take it from the right hon. Gentleman that the post-war Army will be bigger than the pre-war Army?

Mr. CHURCHILL

That would not be a fair inference, but in the case of the pre-war Army at least half was abroad, and in reforming the units of the pre-war Army for the purposes of the post-war Army we have both the units which would be abroad and the feeding units which would be at home in the country at the same time.