per ardua per mare per terram Posted 24 September , 2008 Share Posted 24 September , 2008 Phil, I think that you have a rose tinted view of those battalions. The other ranks might have been pals together, but not between the ranks. And in their work lives before the war there would have been strict demarcation (that lasted well into the last 30 years) and hierarchies. It is reflected even in early PG Wodehouse books! In Something Fresh (1915) he gives his most detailed account of “below stairs” and Psmith in the City hint at the layers of rank within banks. Both the working class and more particularly the middle classes of the period were very conscious of and maintained strata. George Grossmith Diary of a Nobody, is another example. As for professional men being egalitarian, try telling that to physicians and surgeons! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 24 September , 2008 Author Share Posted 24 September , 2008 I think some members have written books or done research on Pals` Battalions. I`d be interested in their views on this - were officer/men relations different in Pals and regular battalions? If what you say is right, PAPMPT, it would make for some strained situations in the messes of the late war years when the commissioned rankers arrived in numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 24 September , 2008 Share Posted 24 September , 2008 I thought there had been several threads on that latter subject already Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Johnson Posted 24 September , 2008 Share Posted 24 September , 2008 Any lad who could fight like that should not have been an officer's batman. Kipling's Epitaphs of War: A SERVANT We were together since the War began. He was my servant—and the better man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desdichado Posted 24 September , 2008 Share Posted 24 September , 2008 Kipling's Epitaphs of War: A SERVANT We were together since the War began. He was my servant—and the better man. The exception or the rule? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now