HC Deb 24 November 1914 vol 68 cc940-2W
Mr. BRIDGEMAN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that many active men who are slightly over the recruiting age desire to fight in the event of invasion and are prepared to provide their own arms and any equipment which may be necessary to enable them to be recognised as combatants; and if the War Office will consider whether some uniform could be designed for a defence force which could be procured in readiness for such an event by men whose qualifications are considered adequate?

Mr. TENNANT

As was explained in the answer which my right hon. Friend gave on Monday last to the hon. Member for Glasgow University, such voluntary associations should affiliate themselves to the Central Association Volunteer Training Corps, under the conditions described in the following letter. The question whether these associations will be recognised as combatant in the event of invasion is still under consideration:—

War Office,

London, S.W.,

19th November, 1914.

My Lord,

In confirmation of the arrangements made with you in various interviews, I am commanded to inform you that the Army Council are prepared to grant recognition to the Central Association Volunteer Training Corps, as long as a responsible officer approved by the War Office is its adviser, and the Council will extend that recognition to such Volunteer Force and rifle clubs, etc., as may become affiliated to your association, and decide to abide by your rules.

The following rules have been framed as the conditions under which the Army Council are prepared to grant recognition to your Association, and to those, which may be affiliated thereto:—

  1. 1. It is to be clearly understood that only the names of those can be registered who are not eligible through age to serve in the Regular or Territorial Army, or are unable to do so for some genuine reason which must be recorded in the corps register; in the case of the latter, they must agree in writing to enlist if specially called upon to do so.
  2. 2. No arms, ammunition, or clothing will be supplied from public sources, nor will financial assistance be given.
  3. 3. There may be uniformity of dress among members of individual organisations provided that no badges of rank are worn, and provided that the dress is distinguishable from that of Regular and Territorial units.
    4. 942
  4. 4. Members of recognised organisations will be allowed to wear as a distinctive badge a red armlet of a breadth of three inches with the letters G.R. inscribed thereon. The badge will be worn on the left arm above the elbow.
  5. 5. The accepted military ranks and titles will not be used or recognised, and no uniform is to be worn except when necessary for training.
  6. 6. No form of attestation involving an oath is permitted.
  7. 7. It will be open to Army recruiting officers to visit the corps at any time and to recruit any members found eligible for service with the Regular Army whose presence in the corps is not accounted for by some good and sufficient reason.

A circular letter, of which a copy is attached, is being sent to all those corps which have applied to the War Office on various questions dealing with their formation.

I am, my Lord,

Your Lordship's obedient servant,

R. H. BRADE.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Desborough,

K.C.V.O.