28. Captain COOTEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that during the war certain Yeomanry regiments were trained and used as machine-gun battalions; and, seeing that in the reconstitution of the Territorial Force these units are all to be converted into artillery brigades and certain other Yeomanry units, formerly converted into infantry, are to be trained as machine gunners, will he give the reason why no use is being made of the machine-gun training already given to the former units?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONIn preparing the scheme for the conversion of the Yeomanry, the fact that certain Yeomanry units had had experience of machine-gun duties is not being lost sight of. To save expense the units of neighbouring counties are being combined to form artillery brigades and, where possible, the more senior regiments are being converted into artillery so as to remain mounted units. The units selected for machine-gun duty were either units whose location did not admit of a convenient linking with other units, or which were low on the seniority list. The whole of the allocation of duties to the various Yeomanry regiments will be the subject of a final review during the next few weeks.
Captain COOTEDuring that period will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the fact that in respect of these units the machine gunners had no previous training in the subject?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI will convey the purport of the hon. Member's remarks to the Secretary of State.
Captain BROWNWill the right hon. Gentleman circulate a statement so that we may know exactly what is going on?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI think the hon. Gentleman will probably hear it on Thursday.