VETERAN RESERVE.
[To THE EDITOR OE THE "SPECTATOR.']
Sra,—Knowing, as a constant reader of the Spectator, the keen interest you take in this subject, I feel sure that you will excuse my asking you for advice and information in connection with it. It is proposed to form a Company or Corps of Veteran Reservists in this town and neighbourhood, and already over fifty names have been obtained. I think it probable that over two hundred will be pleased to give in their names. Will you tell me how to set to work ? Should we write the Lord-Lieutenant or the County Association and ascertain from them what is being done in the county before proceeding further ? What age limit, if any, is stipulated by the War Office ? It has been pointed out to me by an old volunteer, himself a keen shot, that some practice in shooting should be arranged owing to changes in rifles and sighting that have been made during the last few years. This is an important point to be borne in mind. I know that you think that the formation of a Veteran Reserve throughout the kingdom should be taken seriously, and that is why I mention
it.—I am, Sir, &c., G. E. NASH. Church Close, Boston, Lincolnshire.
P.S.—I should add that in taking this matter up I am doing so quite independently of the National Service League, which, of course, is not formed for such a purpose.
[Our correspondent should write to the Chairman or Secretary of his County Association, or both, and ask in what way be can best help in the formation of the Lincolnshire Veteran Reserve. He will no doubt find that the Association already have the matter in hand, and that they will welcome his aid in finding out the names and addresses of Veterans and in getting them to register. Meantime, and pending the receipt of the official answer, he will be doing most useful and patriotic work by getting down on paper the names of the two hundred men of whom he writes. In addition to their names and addresses he should ask from each man the follow- ing particulars :—(1) Rank on leaving the Service (Regulars, Militia, or Volunteers); (2) Length of Service; (3) Name of Corps ; (4) Age. There is under the revised War Office Regulations no age limit, but it is nevertheless most import- ant to register the age or, better still, date of birth. As soon as the Lincolnshire Veteran Reserve is constituted it will no
doubt be divided into Local Companies. Then will be the time to consider facilities for rifle practice. The first and the essential thing is to register the names and addresses. Further developments will follow, but care must be taken to explain to the men that no peace obliga- tions whatever will be imposed on them. If invasion comes the obligations will be real enough and stern enough. Till then all that is essential is to have the names and addresses, so that without friction, delay, or confusion the Government will be able, should the supreme peril arise, to appeal to all the trained men in the country. The Veteran Reserve is fast becoming a reality. There are already some thirty thousand men enrolled, and if people like our correspondent will only bestir themselves and also stir up the County Associations we ought to have 100,000 men enrolled before the end of the year. Ultimately the Veteran Reserve should reach a quarter of a million, and of these some 200,000 would be men fully capable of active service, and half of them with actual battle experience. The importance of the Veteran Reserve as regards home defence can hardly be exaggerated.—En. Spectator.]
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