§ 75. Lieut.-Colonel HILDERasked the Chief Secretary if he can inform the House as to the number of men who are enrolled for service as auxiliary Royal Irish Constabulary in Ireland; what records, if any, are available as to the service of these men in the Great War; whether any have won distinctions in the field for gallantry; and what precautions, if any, are taken against allowing men with bad military records to enrol in this force?
§ Mr. HENRYThe present strength of the auxiliary division of the Royal Irish Constabulary is 1,481. The division is composed entirely of ex-officers and the military record of each man is verified by the War Office before he is accepted as a recruit. He has also to account satisfactorily for the period since the date of his demobilisation. A very high percentage of the men accepted won exceptional distinction for gallantry in the field during the late War, as will be seen from the following list of decorations held by mem- 723 bers of the division: 1 V.C., 2 C.M.G.s, 22 D.S.O.s, one with three bars; 135 M.C.s, 16 M.C.s with bars, 23 D.C.M.s, two with bars; 63 M.M.s, 40 foreign orders, and I Tank Corps Order of Merit. In addition, 350 members of the division were mentioned in despatches.