Training prior to posting overseas

[Badgepye]

Hi,

I'm researching Private 19142 Bernard Johnson of The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. According to his Silver War Badge entry he enlisted on 25/03/1915 and his Qualifying date on the M.I.C. is 26/10/1915. A gap of seven months.

Trying to understand how he occupied those months, Is this normal? Is there a possibility that there could be more information about him on the Medal Rolls?

Thanks

[Chris_Baker]

Seven months is well within the expected range of periods for infantry training. The medal roll will confirm his battalion(s) once he was overseas but nothing more than that.

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Badgepye, and welcome to the Forum!

To answer your last question first, the only extra info you will get from the Medal Rolls will be the battalion in which he served, and the theatre of war he entered in Oct 1915. If this was one of the Eastern theatres - Gallipoli, Egypy/Palestine, Mesopotamia and possibly Salonika - the qualifying date would be the date of disembarkation, so he could have left the UK a couple of weeks earlier.

Six to seven months does not seem out of line for the period between recruitment and posting overseas. His training in the UK would have included basic drill, training in the use of the rifle and bayonet, and physical exercises (including route marches, outdoor billeting etc) to ensure the men could withstand the rigours of active service. It would also depend on whether he joined a newly formed unit (in which case he would not be sent abroad until the whole unit was ready to go) or as a later recruit, sent out with a draft to join an existing unit.

Ron

Edit: Chris beat me to it!

[Badgepye]

Thanks both, much appreciated. All a learning curve for me. Getting to know a lot more over the last year that I ever recall from school.

I had thought, given the numbers of men that were required, that there would be a much shorter training period. With the stories that must have been coming back from the various fronts it's a long time for a man to prepare mentally for posting abroad. People today who need counselling for the little set backs in life really don't know how fortunate they are.

[Derek Black]

I've read newspaper articles that have claimed as little as two, but more often four, months training after enlistment before being sent into theatre.

example:

Pte. John Jenkins

(Glasgow Herald 5th May 1915)

"Mrs Jenkins, 127 Elder Street, Govan, has been informed that her husband, Private James Jenkins, D Company, 1st Cameron Highlanders, died on April 15 as the result of wounds received in action on April 12. Private Jenkins, who was 30 years of age, was born in Govan, and served his apprenticeship in the Fairfield Yard, afterwards being employed as a riveter with Messrs Stephen in Govan Road. He enlisted in the Camerons on September 3 and left for France on January 10."

CWGC

JENKINS, J

Rank: Private

Service No: S/12532

Date of Death: 15/04/1915

Age: 30

Regiment/Service: Cameron Highlanders 1st Bn.

Grave Reference: I. A. 68.

Cemetery: CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY

Additional Information: Son of Archibald and Margaret Jenkins, of 17, Greenfield St., Govan, Glasgow.

[ss002d6252]

The latest recruited man who went to France on 19 April 1915 with 6th DLI enlisted on or close to 01 November 1914 so he had 5 1/2 months or so of training.

The first reinforcement draft which were sent out in June 1915 had men with a minimum of 5 months training.

Craig