HC Deb 14 December 1939 vol 355 c1328W
Mr. Leslie

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether lads under 20 years of age taken from civil life without seagoing experience, belonging to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, are expected to go on active service on armed merchant cruisers?

Mr. Churchill

Yes, Sir. The ship's company of an armed merchant cruiser is made up in part of reservists and may, therefore, include members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. To complete their training members of that Reserve must have sea-going service and for this purpose an armed merchant cruiser is just as suitable as others of His Majesty's ships.