HC Deb 29 July 1914 vol 65 cc1332-3W
Mr. HUNT

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the recent special mobilisation of the Third Fleet (13th July, 1914), the crews embarked on the ships of that fleet were composed entirely of the men officially allotted to that fleet, and that no ratings were embarked in the Third Fleet which are allocated to the Second Fleet, or to any other squadrons?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The crews of the Third Fleet ships in the recent test mobilisation were composed of men officially allotted to them at the date of the mobilisation. Mobilisation appropriations are necessarily changed from day to day. All the fleets were fully manned with their proper complements.

Mr. HUNT

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the Second Fleet has been officially described as being in active commission, because the ships' crews can be completed to full numbers without calling upon any Reserve ratings, he can assure the House that all the ships of the fleet named in the Nore Test Mobilisation Order had, in fact, full crews of the proper composition on board, and that no Reservist was included among it?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The Second Fleet was manned entirely by active-service ratings, with the exception of five pensioner ship's police.