§ Mr. PETOasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the War Office to keep the second-line Yeomanry as units for home defence, or whether, in view of the fact that the officers and men composing them have taken the foreign service obligation and in many cases have been embodied for nearly two years, it is intended to allow them to transfer to some other branch where they may be utilised for foreign service?
§ Mr. FORSTERI can quite understand the desire of these units to see service overseas, but I cannot, I am afraid, make any statement as to the probability of them being used in this way. They are at present being utilised to meet military requirements which are most important, although perhaps not wholly in accordance with the natural desires of the officers and 555W men composing these units. I sympathise with men anxious to get to the front, and who have to remain at home; but I am sure my hon. Friend will realise that such matters must be left to the discretion of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, Home Forces.