Rise of the Footsoldier: A social history of the Temporary Gentlemen of the Auxiliary Division. Eamonn T. Gardiner NUI Galway

Transcription

1 Rise of the Footsoldier: A social history of the Temporary Gentlemen of the Auxiliary Division Eamonn T. Gardiner NUI Galway

2 Temporary Nature Auxiliary Division of RIC temporary in nature Staffed by Temporary Cadets Former Temporary Officers Q. Who served in ADRIC? Personal history & trends Q. Place in Hierarchy of Organisation? All equal or some more equal than others? Q. Class bias during and after War? More of the same?

3 British Expeditionary Force BEF British army s war fighting body Self contained 100,000 men/ 7 Divisions 6 Infantry 1 Cavalry Small by continental armies. Dwarfed by Germany. Expanded significantly by Kitchener New Armies BEF I Division II Division III Division IV Division V Division VI Division Cavalry Division

4 Temporary Gentlemen Need for 30,000+ New Officers for New Armies Officer Training Corps (OTC) at Universities Officer Cadet Battalions (OCB) after having served in ranks Officer Training Corps parading at Oundle School, c ,900+ Temporary Gentlemen temporarily commissioned from enlisted ranks Only for duration of the War

5 Officer Cadet Battalions Officer Cadet Battalion: 9 th Scottish

6 Temporary Officer Training Battalions OTB Number Location 1 Newton Ferrers 2 Pembroke College, Cambridge 3 Bristol 4 Oxford 5 Trinity College, Cambridge 6 Balliol College, Oxford 7 Moore Park, County Cork, Ireland 8 Lichfield 9 Gailes, Ayrshire 10 Gailes, Ayrshire 11 Pirbright 12 Newmarket 13 Newmarket 14 Berkhamstead 15 Romford 16 Kinmel, Rhyl 17 Kinmel, Rhyl 18 Bath 19 Pirbright 20 Crookham, Aldershot 21 Crookham, Aldershot 24 (Tank Corps) Hazeley Down, Winchester Household Brigade Bushey 1 Cavalry Netheravon Garrison Jesus College, Cambridge

7 Interpreting Temporary Officer Medal Cards Awarded the MC (Military Cross), DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal) & MM (Military Medal). Comm, for commissioned from ranks R&F = Rank and File (i.e. Originally and Enlisted Man ) roll L/105B15 page 2556, TNA

8 Wartime Service Officer Corps heavily overrepresented with Upper Classes Regular Officers looked down on Temporary Officers. Massive attrition rate during war Subalterns had short lives at the Front.

9 Rates of Attrition Source:

10 Post-war and Demobilization June ,000,000+ soldiers & officers demobilized. Working odd-jobs to survive hardships. Peacetime wages < 200 p.a. (Mottram in Bank) Wartime wages up to 360 (same wage paid to Auxiliaries).

11 Junior Officers wages : Figures in pence (240d = 1)

12 Officer Corps Class Bias discussing delinquent Subaltern Colonel (sweetly). "BUT ISN'T THAT BETTER THAN BEING A PERMANENT BLIGHTER?" "BUT THERE WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT? HE'S ONLY ONE OF THOSE TEMPORARY BLIGHTERS!" Punch Magazine, c. 1916

13 Joining the Auxiliary Division The Times

14 Who Attested? Munro & Lycette Both promoted from enlisted ranks Officers trying to survive by working where they could. Cooks, Musicians, Begging.

15 Auxiliary Register TNA HO 184/50 The Auxiliary Register & Nominal Roll. Sample of 1000 entries. Largely Subaltern Ranks 800+ entries with actionable data 481 Lieutenants (Army/RFC/RMLI) nd Lieutenants (Army/RFC/RMLI) 8 Sub-Lieutenants (Navy/Merchant Marine) 2 Midshipmen (Navy/Merchant Marine) 2/3 of Sample: ¼ of Division. Captain & Major = 175 Colonel = 6 Brigadier = 2

16 Commission Types within ADRIC Figures from TNA HO 184/50 16% 27% Officer 46% 11% Probable Officer Temporarily promoted from ranks Probable Temporarily promoted from ranks

17 Class vs Positions of Authority Regular Commissions Commandant Deputy-Commandant Adjutant Company Commander Company Commander Company Commander Company Commander Company Commander Company Commander Temporary Commissions Company Commander Company Commander Company Commander

18 ADRIC Attestation Timescale Date of Attestation No. attesting July Aug Sept Oct

19 Career Mobility New Units