§ Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of non-commissioned officers and men in Section D of the Regular Army Reserve in each arm of the Service on 1st February, 1912, the estimated strength of Section D in each arm of the Service on the 1st February, 1913; and if he will state what deduction in estimating the strength of Section D is made for men enlisting in the Special Reserve on compltion of their term in Sections A and B of the Army Reserve instead of re-enlisting in Section D, and the number of men who passed out of Sections A and B in 425W 1911, and who re-enlisted in Section D, and the number of those who were reacted on medical grounds?
§ Colonel SEELYThe strength of Section D by arms on 1st February, 1912, and the estimated strength on 1st February, 1913, are as follows:—
— 1st Feb., 1912. 1st Feb., 1913. Household Cavalry … 27 51 Cavalry of the Line … 2,466 3,210 R.H. and R.F.A. … 3,002 3,850 R.G.A. … 177 118 Royal Engineers … 604 883 Foot Guards … 1,329 1,465 Infantry of the Line … 14,560 18,624 Army Service Corps … 692 984 Army Ordnance Corps … 58 92 R.A. Medical Corps … 423 585 Total all Arms … 23,338 29,862 No deduction has been made for men enlisting in the Special Reserve on completion of their term in Sections A and B of the Army Reserve instead of re-enlisting in Section D, as no statistics are available.
The number of men who re-engaged for Section D from Sections A and B during 1911 was 6,842 As regards those rejected on medical grounds no statistics are available.
§ Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the statement made by the Secretary of State for War on 14th March, 1911 (OFFICIAL REPORT, col. 2094), that He proposed to add 200 ex-soldiers to each of the twenty-seven Special Reserve battalions, and 10 per cent. of their establishment to each of the 3rd Battalion's Special Reserve, Regular Reservists, on completion of their service in Section D are permitted to enlist in the Special Reserve Infantry battalions?
§ Colonel SEELYThe reply is in the affirmative, provided that they comply with the required conditions.
§ Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of ex-soldiers enlisted for the 3rd and 4th Battalions Special Reserve respectively; the number of ex-soldiers who have served in Sections A and B, but not in D, before enlisting in the Special Reserve Infantry; the number 426W of ex-soldiers who have served in Section D before enlisting into the Special Reserve Infantry; and if non-commissioned officers, after serving in Sections A and B and D of the Regular Reserve, are allowed to re-enlist in the Special Reserve, retaining the non-commissioned rank with which they left the Regular Reserve?
§ Colonel SEELYThe number of ex-soldiers who joined the Infantry Special Reserve from 1st March, 1911, up to the 10th February, amounted to 512 in the 3rd Battalion, and 413 in the Extra Reserve battalions. There are no statistics available in the War Office to show what sections of the Reserve these men served in prior to joining the Special Reserve. Discharged non-commissioned officers have no claim to retain their previous rank on joining the Special Reserve.