§ 9. Dr. Kingasked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider his decision to move the Royal Hampshire Regiment from its traditional home at Winchester to Exeter, and the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry to Winchester.
§ The Under-Secretary of State and Financial Secretary for War (Mr. Julian Amery)These two regiments will retain their regimental headquarters at Winchester and Oxford to look after regimental affairs and take part in recruiting in their county areas.
The training of recruits, however, will in future be carried out at the infantry brigade depots as explained in the White Paper on the Future Organisation of the Army (Cmd. 230). The depot of the Wessex Brigade will be at Exeter, and the Green Jackets Brigade at Winchester.
§ Dr. KingIs the Under-Secretary of State aware that the association of the Royal Hampshires with Winchester and of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry with Oxford dates back to the founding of these regiments? Would it not be a pity to hurt the traditions of them both and the will and wishes of the people of the three counties concerned by breaking that association?
§ Mr. AmeryThe hon. Gentleman will recall that the principle of training 1143 recruits at brigade depots was fundamental to the reorganisation announced last year, and I can assure him that the selection of the sites for the brigade depots was made unanimously by the regiments concerned.
§ Mr. J. EdenIs it at all possible for the regiments in some ways still to maintain their ties with their old depots and those towns with which they were formerly associated and have been associated for so long? Is it necessary to uproot them completely, lock, stock and barrel, just to enable brigade training of recruits to be carried on?
§ Mr. AmeryAs I said in my original Answer—to reassure my hon. Friend now, if I may—both regiments will retain their regimental headquarters, that is, a smaller form of depot, at both Winchester and Oxford.