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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: DJSB on Thursday 09 March 17 14:56 GMT (UK)
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My grandfather was in the Duke of Connaught's Own Sligo Artillery in 1905. Royal Gazette shows him promoted from 2nd to 1st lt in July. He would have been 18 the previous February. Was this regular army or a part time militia post? I know that reserves were introduced in 1908. What happened before this? What would he have had to do to join. He did not go to Sandhurst as his older brother did. Would be grateful for any help around this.
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Hi
Welcome to Rootschat. I have moved your post to the main board where more people will see it. Hopefully someone will be along to help soon
Milly
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Thanks Milly. Hope so.
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The Militias were re-formed into the (Special) Reserve following the Haldane reforms in 1907 for men with no previous service as regulars. So part timers.
with regard to commissions this says it better than I can:
To gain a commission, Potential Officers have to pass through four modules of training, which together form the Army Reserve Commissioning Course.
Module A consists of basic field training and elementary military skills. This can be completed at either a UOTC over a number of weekends, or over 2 weeks at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS)
Module B covers training in Tactics, Leadership, Doctrine and Navigation, both in theory and in practice, with a focus on the section battle drills and the platoon combat estimate. This training can either be spread over 10 weekends at a UOTC, or 2 weeks at the RMAS.
Module C builds on the Tactics, Leadership, Doctrine and Navigation taught in Module B, with a greater focus on the theory behind these constructs. CBRN training is also added at this point, and Officer Cadets undergo a number of field exercises to test their military and leadership skills. Module C can only be undertaken at the RMAS.
Module D Once the Officer Cadet has completed their ArmyOfficer Selection Board, they can complete this final module, after which they will become commissioned officers in the British Army. Based at the RMAS, this module consists primarily of a prolonged field exercise, followed by drill training in preparation for the passing out parade.
On successful completion of Module D, the Officer Cadets receive their Commission and become Second Lieutenants. Further training that is required prior to them being considered for operational deployment and promotion to Lieutenant.
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Thanks, jim1 for such a full reply.
The thing is that my grandfather's promotion was posted in 1905, so before the Haldane reforms. He would only have been 18 at this time which seems young to be a first lieutenant. So I wondered what route might have taken him there before the Militia's were reformed - and whether in 1905 this was likely to be a regular commission or - as you have described - a part time one.
What system did the Haldane reforms replace?
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The Haldane reforms or the Territorial Forces Act as it was known replaced the Militia, Volunteer & Yeomanry Battalions taking effect in 1908.
I doubt that Officer training would have been any different between 1905 & 1908.
After undergoing the additional training for a 1/Lt. all he had to do was wait for a position as 1/Lt. to become available. It may have come sooner rather than later.
He must have been highly regarded, also family connections help.
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Thanks very much your helpful replies.