CO885-(1-2) — Page 20

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

885

1 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

But to divide so small a number as this into four companies, and to give to canlı of such depôts the separate organization of a distinct corps, is so that except as a temporary measure, it is one which never could have been proposed or palpable an absurdity, Ranctioned. The question then arises whether under these circumstances a change of system is not absolutely necessary, in order to diminish the pressure of the colonial service upon the infantry of the line without making an auginentation of the army to an extent which would be attended with a very large and inconvenient expense.

•

The change which has already been suggested, is rather a modification than an abandonment of the existing depôt system. battalion of infantry into ten nearly equal companies, eight of which, of 000 men, would It has been proposed to divide each form a battalion for foreign service, while the two left at home, of 139 rank and file, would form part of a provisional battalion to be composed of the depôts of five or six regiments.

The effect of the proposed change, would best be shown by comparing the results which under present circumstances would follow, from adopting it generally, orioni strictly adhering to the depot system, as established in 1825.

The Battalions were then 'divided into-

Six Service Companies Four Depot

ditto

Rank and File.

510

224

740

21

may be admitted; but the question is, whether under the proposed system, there would not be at least as much facility as at present, for keeping together a certain number of regiments?

Were the depôt system now strictly adhered to, the force at home, as has already been stated, would consist of—

22 Battalions of 799 57 Depots of 224

-

Rank and File.

16,258

12,768

20,026

If the proposed change were made, as nearly as possible the same amount of force

Infantry of the Line

at home would be composed of—

30 Battalions of 739

22,170

6,811

28,981

And if, when the army was ordered to be recruited up to its full establishment, this division had been maintained, and the force abroad, exclusive of New South Wales and India, had continued the same as at present, namely 29,244 rank and file, there would have been required for colonial service, fifty-seren battalions, making with the twenty- four in India and New South Wales eighty-one battalions abroad. There would thus have been left at home only twenty-two battalions, and the yearly reliefs required being seven 2-10ths, the home service of each battalion would have beeen reduced to little more than three years.

But if the different division of rank and file which has been partially adopted were generally carried into effect, namely—

Service Companies Depot ditto

600 130

739

there would be required for the same amount of force abroad forty-nine battalions ;† the number of battalions at home would be thirty, and the reliefs required annually being six 4-10ths or sixty-four in ten years, the length of home service would be four years and eight months.

It may possibly be objected to this proposal that the alleviation of the foreign service required from the army would be less than it would appear from the preceding statement, since the officers and men would be deprived of the relief they now enjoy, in being enabled to come home to the depot companies. So far as regards the officers, there may, perhaps, be some force in this objection, though any advantage of this kind, which even the officers derive from the present system, is one attended with many draw- backs, and which is very far Indeed froin counter-balancing the relief they would derive from the diminution of the proportion of the colonial to the home service, of the regiment. But to the private soldier the change would be one for the better in every point of view, since it may safely be asserted, that to them no real benefit whatever, results from the depot system, there being practically, scarcely any interchange of men between the service and depot companies. For the purpose of ascertaining the real extent of such interchange, an inquiry has been made as to the number of men actually sent home during the period of their service abroad, by four regiments on different stations, not for the purpose of being discharged, but to serve with the depôt companies. The accompanying paper, No. 2, containing the result of this inquiry conclusively proves that no real relief from the severity of colonial service, is afforded to the private soldi by the present system of depôts.

III. The effect of the depot system in increasing the pressure of foreign service upon the battalions of the line has already been shown, and it therefore now only remains to be considered how far the proposed change would interfere with the means which the present arrangement is said to afford of "providing for the sudden calls of home service, without breaking up the regiments."

The advantage in this respect, attributed to the present system must of course arise from the assistance obtained in the performance of the Home Service, from the depot companies of regiments abroad. That the assistance thus afforded is really valuable

57 x 515_29,355.

† 59 x 600=29.400

19 Depo of 139 -

Infantry of the Linc

If the results of these two modes of composing the force at home be compared, it in obvious that the latter would allow of eight whole battalions as well as the reduced de- pôts being employed in those duties now confided to the reserve companies of regiments broad, still leaving the same number as the former, namely, twenty-two battaliona, for the description of duty pow assigned to entire regiments at home. No diminution, therefore, could take place in the means afforded by the present system of keeping toge ther, and avoiding breaking into detachments regiments which require to be re-or- ganized on their return from lonial service. In point of fact, there would in this respect be a devided advantage in favour of the proposed new organization of the depôts, from the greater efficiency these bodies might be expected to attain. Lord Hill has shown in his letter of the 7th January, that the depôts of four companies, and 139 rank and file, and even those of 180 rank and file, are now almost useless, and it is greatly to be feared that the Officers who remain at home in charge of these skeleton corps, which are incapable of performing real duty, will, if the system is persevered in, acquire care- less, idle habits, which will hereafter be the source of much inconvenience.

Even in the depôts of the strength originally contemplated, there can be no doubt that considerable needless expense is incurred, and that more men than necessary are taken from the ranks by the separate organization of such small bodies as distinct corps.

·

By forming them into provisional battalions in the manner proposed, these objections would be got rid of; the proportion of rank and file to officers would not be inconve- niently small, and no more men would be taken for staff and other duties of this descrip- tion than were really required for the purpose. Some saving of expense would also result from the measure as will appear by the accompanying statement, No. 3, unless it should be thought proper to alter the proposed establishment of the battalions by appointing a permanent Lieut.-Colonel to each, a measure which, though it would absorb rather more than the saving which would otherwise be effected by the arrangement, would undoubtedly be attended with considerable advantages. The employment of eight more officers of this rank, suppong forty-nine battalions to be employed abroad, and their depots to be formed into eight provisional battalions, would afford some additional motion to the army, and if a good selection of those appointed to these mmands were made, it would very much contribute to rendering the proposed battalions good schools for training both young officers and recruits.

pro

Such are the reasons which seem to justify the conclusion that all the objects for which the maintenance of the present division of regiments into service and depot companies is said to be necessary, would be far more effectually accomplished by the proposed modification of the system; and the adoption of this change, which might in the first instance be confined to those regiments which have alreadypen ordered to furnis rank and file to the service companies, is therefore mostrarnestly recom- meuded.

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