TCDE-Team: Created page with "''Home Defence'' is an article published in The Times on 26 november 1914. The article reports a Guildhall meeting supporting the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps, where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle seconded a resolution backing spare-time military training for men too old or otherwise ineligible for the Regular Army, arguing that basic rifle training would make them useful for home defence. == Home Defence == File:the-times-1914-11-26-p5-home-defen..."

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Created page with "''Home Defence'' is an article published in The Times on 26 november 1914. The article reports a Guildhall meeting supporting the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps, where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle seconded a resolution backing spare-time military training for men too old or otherwise ineligible for the Regular Army, arguing that basic rifle training would make them useful for home defence. == Home Defence == File:the-times-1914-11-26-p5-home-defen..."

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''Home Defence'' is an article published in [[The Times]] on 26 november 1914.

The article reports a Guildhall meeting supporting the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps, where [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] seconded a resolution backing spare-time military training for men too old or otherwise ineligible for the Regular Army, arguing that basic rifle training would make them useful for home defence.

== Home Defence ==
[[File:the-times-1914-11-26-p5-home-defence.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[The Times]] (26 november 1914, p. 5)]]

'''A MILLION MEN DRILLING IN SPARE TIME.'''

There was a large assembly in the Guildhall yesterday to hear from Lord Desborough a statement of the purpose of the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps for promoting the military training in spare time of men ineligible for service in the Regular Forces. The Lord Mayor (Sir Charles Johnston) presided, and had the support of the following:—

The Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Devonshire, Lord Lincolnshire, Lord Winchester, Lord Leigh, Lord Glenconner, [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir A. Conan Doyle]], General Sir O'Moore Creagh, Sir H. Craik, M.P., Sir Ernest Clarke, Lieutenant-General Sir H. Settle, Sir F. Schuster, Sir G. Lagden, Sir G. Praguell, Colonel Cornwallis West, Brigadier-General Leach, Mr. Stuart Wortley, M.P., Mr H. G. Wells, and the Mayors of Paddington and West Ham.

The LORD MAYOR said if the object of the scheme were in any way an alternative to recruiting he would have had nothing to do with it. He hoped that the citizens of London and of every community in the kingdom would come forward to support the scheme. (Hear, hear.)

LORD DESBOROUGH said the association did its utmost to secure recruits for the Regular Forces and no agency for recruiting had been more successful in that, the first object. The second object was to provide opportunity for drill and musketry training for all who, from age or other disqualification, were unable to join the Forces. There must be a genuine reason for not joining for Regular service, and that reason would be recorded on the Corps register. He was told, on the authority of the War Office, that there was a force of nearly a million men giving up their spare time to drill. The organization would, he hoped. be by counties, in each county a regiment consisting of many battalions, under the disposition of the Lord Lieutenant, who would act under orders and advice from the General Officer Commanding the District.

LORD LINCOLNSHDE moved a resolution recognizing the value of the movement for national defence and pledging the meeting to support the association by every means in their power. He said it was necessary work the association was doing, and it would be recognized by men in the fighting line at the front.

[[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|SIR A. CONAN DOYLE]], in seconding the resolution said the movement arose in a natural spontaneous way immediately on the declaration of war. It was felt by those who were told they were too old to join the Army that unless some form of training, some rudimentary knowledge of the rifle were given, they would be of no more use to the country than so many women or professional football players.

The DUKE of NORFOLK said it was well that the intense desire to serve the country on the part of those too old to join the Army should be organized. The far-reaching calamities that might follow an invasion must be borne in mind, and unless they were to submit with folded hands it was necessary to organize, and this movement must be encouraged.

The DUKE of DEVONSHIRE said that as representing a county far removed from the coast and the first danger of invasion, he could say they were most anxious to do what they could in defence.

The resolution was carried with loud cheers.

Letters warmly approving of the object of the meeting were read from Mr. Balfour. the Lord Chief Justice, and General Sir R. Baden Powell.

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