Kitchener's Distrust of the TF

[Terry_Reeves]

There is evidence that Kitchener was not even comfortable with the TF in the Home Defence role. He kept Regular Divisions back for this very reason, only deploying them when F&F deteriorated rapidly.

Martin

In fact the holding back of two divisions, along with the TF for home defence, came about in 1908. In essence, the National Service League, led by Lord Roberts tried to get Haldane's reforms modified, principally by getting the voluntary enlistment into the TF scrapped and replaced by conscription. Roberts appears not to have any particular problem with the TF per se, indeed he regarded it as a great step forward, but argued that they would need 6 months to get up to readiness in the event of a war. This was the excuse needed to argue that only a conscripted TF would be able to carry out the task. You will no doubt be aware of the invasion scare that permeated the country around this time, not helped by William Le Queux's book "The Invasion of 1910", which Roberts helped sponsor. Criticism by elements of the right wing press did not help the reputation of the newly formed TF either.

In 1907 Roberts set up the self-proclaimed "Committee of Four" consisting of Roberts, Charles Repington, Lord Lovat and the Tory MP Sir Samuel Scott who sought to gain support from the Opposition , and a former First Lord of the Admiralty. Because of this merry-go-round, the Committee for Imperial Defence decided to investigate the invasion scare thesis. The CID sat 16 times between between November 1907 and April 1908, listening to arguments from all parties. Charles Repington spoke for National Service League arguing "bolt from the blue" thesis: that Germany might well be able to launch an assault by up 150,000 troops with no warning. This argument was taken apart by the both the naval and army representatives on the committee.

The CID published their findings in October 1908 and dismissed the pro-conscription case. The RN would be able to guard Britain's shores, providing naval supremacy was maintained irrespective of the size of the home army. However, in the event of what they termed a " small raids" by no more than 70,000 men, even if the regular army was abroad, the new home defence force, which included a mixture of regular and TF troops, would be strong enough to cope for the first 6 months of any war. The general staff was put under pressure by Haldane to agree to agree in principle that two regular divisions would be left at home for the first 6 months of any war.

So where does that leave Kitchener? He wasn't in the UK whilst this was happening of course. When he was appointed as Secretary of State for War, he kept silent when the subject of conscription was discussed as he felt that, having spent so long abroad, he not a good judge of what the national attitude would be to compulsory service. With regard to the TF, he must have been aware of the situation surrounding its formation, but appears to have carried out the 1908 plan of leaving two regular divisions at home, which of course he had no part in.

TR

[Guest]

I found this in Hansard, 10 April 1919 Viscount Haldane, hope it's of interest?

" Before the noble Viscount replies I should like to draw his attention to the very great hardships of this case. I think that there is a great deal in what the noble Earl has said. I know what the difficulties of the War Office must be—they must be very great—in finding troops; but after all, the Regulars enlisted on a professional basis and the Army was their profession. The Territorials did not enlist for service abroad at all. There was an honourable understanding among them—it was very widely spread—that they would agree to go abroad. It was supposed that they might have to extend the Expeditionary Force, and therefore, after that Expeditionary Force was called into action, they were proud to say as an obligation of honour that they would go abroad. But they were not professional soldiers, and the reason why they have gone so far is due to one cause, a very honourable one—their response to Lord Kitchener.

The magnetism of Lord Kitchener's personality was very great, and very early in the war he made an appeal to the Territorials. He did not think that they were fit to go and fight in France straight off, and so he persuaded India and Egypt to give back Regular battalions and batteries and to take Territorial battalions and batteries in their place. It was a great feat of personality to be able to do so much, and I do not think that anybody but Lord Kitchener could have persuaded the 264 Territorial Force to do it. But they did it, and the result was that Territorials went abroad to take the place of Regular battalions which were in India, in Egypt, and various parts of the world. They did this without grumbling and without complaint, but it is obvious that the hardship upon them was very much greater than on the Regulars, whose profession it was to serve in those parts of the world.

But the unfortunate Territorials have had no release. The very reason for which they were selected, which was that they were to take the place of long-service soldiers in these distant places, has magnified the hardships under which they are at the present time. Now that peace is at any rate in sight, the obvious course is to replace Territorial regiments at a distance by Regular units. That may be difficult. I know too much about the difficulties to wish to press the matter to an extreme; still it is the proper course, and I do not think that we ought here to leave out of sight the enormity of the hardship which is inflicted upon the Territorials by keeping them in very distant places, which are wholly outside their legal obligation, for this very prolonged period, and I think therefore that the noble Earl was justified in moving the Amendment if only upon that ground. "

Mike

[Guest]

According to this, Kitchener wanted to keep the TF divisions at home and as a complete force because of the perceived danger of a German invasion.

TR

I think this newspaper report backs that up? Sheffield Evening Telegraph - Saturday 15 August 1914

The Territorials

Lord Kitchener's Scheme for Home and Foreign Service

Expert Rifle Shots

Civil Marksmen to Teach the Recruits

Lord Kitchener has sent the following communication to the Territorial Force County Associations and officers commanding Territorial units: There seems to be a certain amount of misunderstanding in some cases with regard to the division of Territorial units into homogeneous corps for home and foreign service respectively. Lord Kitchener is fully aware that the spirit of the Territorials would induce many to volunteer for foreign service in their units, although they may have very important duties to look after in this country which necessitate their remaining at home. He would point out that home defence is a matter of great importance, and he does not desire that those who cannot, on account of their affairs, volunteer for foreign service, should by any means be induced to do so, or on account of such inability should leave the Territorial Forces.

County Associations and officers commanding units should arrange that, in Territorial districts, certain units should be designated for home service and receive all those who cannot volunteer for foreign service into their ranks, whilst those who have not such important ties at home should be passed from units remaining for home defence into units of the Territorial Force who have selected to volunteer for foreign service. Lord Kitchener would then be able to organise both forces for the respective roles they will have to perform. He hopes to be able to arrange that the training of the Home defence Territorial Forces may be on a system by which leave can be given for those serving to look after their urgent private affairs, somewhat on the commando principle which prevailed in South Africa.

On the other hand, homgeneous units for foreign service should take up continuous training, and endeavour by every means in their power to make themselves thoroughly efficient for service in the field. The fact of a Territorial unit having volunteered for foreign service, and being, by this arrangement, full up with men who can give their entire time to the Service, does not imply that such units will be employed abroad until they reach a standard of efficiency which would enable them to do credit to the British Army on foreign service. Each of such units will be carefully inspected and reported on from time to time as their efficiency for taking the field.

It must be distinctly remembered that once the division for foreign and home service has taken place recruits can only be taken into the units of the category to which that unit belongs.

It is officially announced that Lord Kitchener has authorised the National Rifle Association to form an organisation for the training in rifle shooting of recruits now flocking to the colours. The Second Army of 100,000 and the mass on men who have enlisted into the Territorial Force need rapid training, especially with the rifle, and the expert marksmen of the N.R.A. provide ready to hand a class instructor of the most expert kind.

Acting in consultation with Major-General Lord Cheylesmore, the War Office has ordered the formation of a special Corps of Expert Service Rifle-shots to undertake the rapid instruction of recruits in musketry. All Territorial shots are now serving with their battalions, but the new Corps will be formed from the ranks of the 2,000 Rifle Clubs now on the roll of the N.R.A. These clubs contain thousands of the most expert marksmen in the country, and many of them have served in His Majesty's Forces.

None will be taken who are eligible to serve with the troops, but the civilian riflemen and ex-Service men will be numerous enough to supply all needs. A ready response is certain, as is the civil marksman's chance of service. Each marksman will be posted for duty as a musketry instructor, and a camp will be formed at Bisley under the command of Lord Cheylesmore, who will be supported by the School of musketry and the Regular Service. The following letter will be issued to the secretaries of Rifle Clubs at an early date:-

The National Rifle Association has been authorised by the War Office to form, at Bisley and throughout the United Kingdom, a Corps of Expert Service Rifle-shots, ineligible to serve on the Active List of His Majesty's Forces, for duty as Musketry Instructors. These instructors will receive military rank. Those willing to service should apply through the secretaries of their clubs, giving the following details:-

1 Name in full

2 Permanent address.

3 Age.

4 Previous service and rank on retirement.

5 Special qualifications, also if can bring uniform and rifle.

6 If employment desired (a) Bisley or ( elsewhere.

The secretary of the club is requested to forward these individual applications when completed to the Secretary, National Rifle Association, Bisley Camp, Brockwood, Surrey.

Mike

[brianmorris547]

I remembered seeing something in the Bolton Chronicle about this but upon checking I found that the issue dated 29/08/1914 reported Lord K's speech to the House of Lords on 25/08/1914 and the issue dated 19/09/1914 reported on his statement to the House on 17/09/1914. This has already been covered in this thread in post 22 by Dycer. The edition of 22/08/1914 however reporting on The New Armies - Lord Kitchener's Plan gave the military correspondent of The Times as it's source, so there may well be more material in that paper. The BC of 12/09/1914 reported that Lord K had visited wounded soldiers in hospital. "Where were you wounded", he asked one man. "Can't rightly say, Sir. They havent found the bullet yet". "No matter", replied Lord K, "Bullets dont do much harm nowadays, I carried one for three years. Get well as soon as you can".