§ Lieut.-Colonel BURGOYNEasked the Secretary of State for War what instructions were issued to officers commanding regiments in regard to the release of their officers for educational courses initiated in the Army of Occupation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMy hon. and gallant Friend's question is, I think, based upon a misapprehension. The greater part of the educational instruction in the Army is given in units, and the part played by commanding officers in initiating and encouraging the work has from the first been a principal factor in the great success achieved. No instructions for the release either of officers or of other ranks for educational courses have been found necessary beyond the allocation of vacancies for the central schools which were instituted for the purpose of giving the special instruction which could not be given in units. The difficulty has been to find places for all those whose names were submitted. At the same time it is obvious that military duties may sometimes make it impossible for a particular officer or man to be spared from his unit at any given date.
§ Lieut.-Colonel BURGOYNEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that no officers of the 9th (Service) Battalion, Gloucester Regiment, have been permitted to go on a course of instruction since the regiment has been commanded by Lieut.-Colonel J. Fane, D.S.O.; whether he is aware that many officers of this battalion put in applications for this course of instruction, but that they were told that they were there for the purpose of parade and not to go to school; whether this battalion has now been disbanded; and what the War Office proposes to do for these many officers who were not permitted to utilise the opportunities of learning a trade or profession provided by the Government?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe cadre of the 9th (Service) Battalion, Gloucester Regiment, has just returned to England, and I have called for a report on the statements contained 819W in my hon. and gallant Friend's question. I will write to him as soon as the report is received.