§ 11. Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether the Duke of Atholl has a private army of his own; whether such army is paid for out of public funds and is under the control of the War Office; for what purpose it exists; and how many men it comprises?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSON (Parliamentary Secretary, War Office)I presume the hon. Member is referring to the body of men known as the "Atholl Highlanders," which consists, I am informed, of some 200 tenants and employés of the Duke of Atholl and is maintained by him entirely for ceremonial purposes. I understand that similar bodies of clansmen exist elsewhere in the Highlands of Scotland, and are looked upon as picturesque and popular relics of by-gone days. No public funds have been spent upon them, and they are not under the control of the War Office.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYMay I ask whether any of these gallant forces served in the War?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI am afraid I cannot answer that without notice, but I should think most of them.
Dr. MURRAYWill the right hon. Gentleman cause information to be sent to the hon. Member as to the example of the dignity of a Highland chief that requires an army of this sort to maintain that dignity, especially the chief of the principal clan in Scotland, the Clan Murray?