Temporary/Acting Promotions

[dfaulder]

In amongst the threads on ranks, I can't recall seeing anything about the criteria for qualifying for a temporary or acting rank. Would these be in Kings Regulations? I have seen in correspondence reference to needing to hold a responsibility for 14 days to temporarily qualify for the relevant rank.

For example.

A Lt-Col goes on leave, leaving a Temporary Captain in command in Jan/Feb 1918. The battalion is at about 75% strength and appears to be being rotated between the lines and camp. During the next three weeks the battalion is slowly run down before being absorbed in to an Entrenching Battalion 19/20 days later. Would the "acting CO" have normally been in line for a temporary promotion - possibly to Major?

TIA

David

[Ron Clifton]

Hello David

There are several threads on the Forum about the nuances of temporary and acting rank.

Put simply, "temporary" usually means a commission or promotion which is for the duration of the War. "Acting" means a short-term promotion whilst holding a particular command or appointment.

In your case it is possible that the temporary captain was promoted to acting major (or even to acting lt-col and perhaps temporary major!) whilst commanding the rump of the battalion. The only way to resolve it is to look at the London Gazette.

If the original CO's absence was only intended to be short-term it is likely that his deputy was not promoted. There was provision in the Pay Warrant for extra pay in those circumstances, but not a promotion. The conditions for temporary and acting ranks would in any case normally be in the Pay Warrant rather than Kings Regs.

Ron

[dfaulder]

Hello again Ron,

In this case the temporary Captain did not get an "acting" promotion; in fact when he was finally absorbed into the Entrenching battalion he had to relinguish his Temporary Captaincy as it was deemed the New Armies no longer required him. He was killed in action a few weeks later whilst in command of a Company in a Regular battalion.

David