HC Deb 21 October 1912 vol 42 cc1740-2W
Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEY

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the establishment and strength, by arms, of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Territorial Force on 1st October, 1912, permanent staff excluded; the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men in the Territorial Force who are non-combatants; the number of non-commissioned officers and men under twenty years of age on 1st October, 1912; the number of non-commissioned officers and men whose period of engagement expires before 1st October, 1913; and the number of non-commissioned officers and men now serving on a one-year's engagement?

Colonel SEELY

The figures available are as follow:—

Establishment. Strength.
Officers. N.C.O.s and Men. Officers. N.C.O.s and Men.
Yeomanry 1,345 24,766 1,181 23,424
Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery 1,211 32,907 957 28,253
Royal Garrison Artillery 446 11,453 380 8,927
Royal Engineers 547 14,036 506 12,288
Infantry 5,742 196,510 4,730 160,897
Army Service Corps 322 8,610 282 7,087
Royal Army Medical Corps 1,442 13,643 1,116 11,623
Army Veterinary Corps 184 14 91
Total 11,239 301,939 9,243 252,499
Particulars as to ages and termination of engagement are not yet available, but will be published in due course in the Territorial Force Annual Return.

Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEY

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the establishment and the strength, by arms, of the London Territorial Force; the number who volunteered to attend the special camp held at a period later than the August camp; whether this special camp was held, and, if not, for what reason; and if he will also give the number of Territorial Royal Horse and Field Artillery batteries who trained this year, with the number of such batteries which trained with horses previously used this year by other Territorial Artillery batteries?

Colonel SEELY

The figures for the London district are as follows:—

Establishment. Strength.
Officers. N.C.O.s and Men. Officers. N.C.O.s and Men.
Yeomanry 120 2,211 113 2,020
Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery 176 4,780 137 4,083
Royal Garrison Artillery 13 417 12 333
Royal Engineers 67 1,881 67 1,704
Infantry 768 26,004 636 20,074
Army Service Corps 42 1,092 34 646
Royal Army Medical Corps 194 2,020 159 1,511
Army Veterinary Corps 23 2 8
Total 1,403 38,407 1,166 30,371

As regards the alternative camp in September, as only one officer and seventy-eight men volunteered for it, it was considered expedient to cancel the arrangements. The whole number of horse and field batteries, amounting to twenty-four

and 154 respectively, trained this year. The information required regarding the horses is not available at the War Office, and could not be obtained except with great difficulty by calling for returns from the various commands.