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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Training period


Rog123

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Hello,

does anyone know the training period for a new recruit into the british army in between 1914 and 1918.What did this entail and where did it occur?How long would be the period between induction and active service?

Thanks alot for any information

Ron

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The Swansea Battalion started forming at Swansea from August 1914 onwards. It left for Rhyl (N.Wales) in December 1914, later went to Winchester for final training and left for France in December 1915. So a good year bearing in mind recruits were still signing up in very late 1914. Not sure if this is typical. Their rifles arrived just before they left for France!

Bernard Lewis

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Ron

The basic training lasted 14 weeks. For detail about the actual training see Life of Tommy Atkins on this website. Sometimes a man would be sent overseas within weeks of completing his training. At others he might wait for months. Up until late March 1918 no soldier was supposed to be sent abroad until he reached the age of 19. It was then reduced to eighteen and a half.

Charles

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Thanks for the replies.

If the period of training was approx 3 to 4 months then would the last amendment to the military service act of april 1918 which increased the military age to 50, in fact have produced many conscripts as the war would have ended by the time they had completed their training?

Ron

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