RootsChat.Com

General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: helenback56 on Monday 13 October 14 21:23 BST (UK)

Title: How would a soldier join a batallion from the training regiment in 1917-1918
Post by: helenback56 on Monday 13 October 14 21:23 BST (UK)

My Great uncle served in the Kings Shropshire light infantry 1/4 battalion and died in action in France and Flanders 7/6/18. I gather this was a day after a significant battle for this battalion.

I am curious to know whether there were specific dates young soldiers fresh out of training would join their allocated battalion, or would they just ship over a handful of fresh recruits as and when a few of them had received sufficient training? My Gt Uncle would have been 18 in May 1917, and a little bit of light research suggests that after 6 months of training, a soldier aged 18 yr and 6 months around 1917-1918 would be able to serve overseas. I understand this was reduced from age 19 because of the demand for soldiers on the front line.

Is there any literature on how soldiers transferred from training Battalions to active battalions on the front line or more specifically on the Kings Shropshire reg named above?

Thanks

Title: Re: How would a soldier join a batallion from the training regiment in 1917-1918
Post by: mmm45 on Monday 13 October 14 22:22 BST (UK)

http://www.1914-1918.net/menu_life.htm

Start here.Your man was a Territorial soldier.

ady

Title: Re: How would a soldier join a batallion from the training regiment in 1917-1918
Post by: newburychap on Monday 13 October 14 23:43 BST (UK)

The age limit was dropped from 19 to 18.5 in March/April 1918 - desperate times, desperate measures.

By then men were sent to IBDs (Infantry Base Depots) in France from which they were allocated to battalions according to need. If the man was trained by the KOSLI he would in normal times be more likely to be sent to a KOSLI battalion than another regiment, but if there was another battalion with a significantly greater need that's where he would go.  By then I don't think it made much difference if it was a regular, service or territorial battalion.

Title: Re: How would a soldier join a batallion from the training regiment in 1917-1918
Post by: helenback56 on Thursday 16 October 14 21:51 BST (UK)

Thanks