Command of a battalion

[Michael Pegum]

I am researching a Lt. Col. aged 39 who was hoping to be appointed to command a battalion in the field in mid-1918. At home, he had commanded a service battalion which was used as a draft-finding unit, sending on men who had completed their training to other battalions in France.

I have just read, in Anne Wolff's book 'Subalterns of the Foot', that:

"In 1917 an order was issued that no-one over the age of 35 should be given command of a battalion ..."

If this is so, he hadn't a chance. Can anyone quote chapter and verse for this order?

Michael

[27thBN]

I would have thought the opposite was true ,the men i have medal groups for that were battalion commanders not just acting, but certainly at least Majors -Temp Lt-Colonels were over 35 :unsure: . But during the war really hard to see how they could be that fussy if you did the job surely thats what would count.

MC

[peterhodgkinson]

In the pre-war regular army the maximum term as a CO was 4 years. No such limit existed in the TF or Special Reserve. The quote about no one over 35 actually comes from the final 1918 volume of the Official History. I know of no such order and it certainly wasn't adhered to - there were Lt-Cols over 40 in command of active battalions in 1918.

Peter

[Heid the Ba]

The quote about no one over 35 actually comes from the final 1918 volume of the Official History. I know of no such order and it certainly wasn't adhered to - there were Lt-Cols over 40 in command of active battalions in 1918.

[pedant mode] The quote says "be given command" rather than command, the two are not incompatible.[/pedant mode]

[Michael Pegum]

The quote says "be given command" rather than command, the two are not incompatible. Good point!

In the pre-war regular army the maximum term as a CO was 4 years. No such limit existed in the TF or Special Reserve. The quote about no one over 35 actually comes from the final 1918 volume of the Official History. I know of no such order and it certainly wasn't adhered to - there were Lt-Cols over 40 in command of active battalions in 1918.

Peter

Can you quote what it says in the volume mentioned? I don't have easy access to the Official History.

Michael

[peterhodgkinson]

P. 613 '1918' Vol 5.

"In 1917 an order was issued that no one over the age of 35 should be given command of a battalion, but after the peace, 56 again became the limit." The order is not referenced.

"Given command" - what as ... temporary, acting, substantive Lt-Col? There are plenty of all three (but largely acting/temporary) over the age of 35 "given command " in 1918 ... but a number of them are 37/8, and have commanded battalions previously. So the issue was undoubtedly perceived skill rather than an absolute adherence to a supposed age limit.

Peter