HC Deb 05 June 1919 vol 116 cc2244-5W
Mr. C. WHITE

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers have been demobilised since the Armistice and how many are now employed or serving on full pay?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The number of officers demobilised up to the 3rd June, 1919, was 103,672. The number still serving is, approximately, 71,000, of whom about 11,000 are either in hospital or are awaiting demobilisation.

Mr. R. GWYNNE

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that men who joined up at the beginning of the War and were subsequently commissioned from the ranks cannot count their service in the ranks for the purposes of demobilisation; and whether men who joined up later and obtained a commission without serving in the ranks should be given priority of demobilisation because their commissioned service is longer, although their length of service is shorter?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The position of officers regarding demobilisation, is that all officers (except Regular officers holding permanent commissions) who are not required for the Armies of Occupation or for the military machinery of demobilisation, are to be demobilised. The question of length of service, therefore, does not arise.