fwwjournal Posted 23 October , 2017 Share Posted 23 October , 2017 My grandfather served with Cheshire Yeomanry and arrived in Egypt in March 1916, as Corporal. Shropshire and Cheshire Yeomanry later amalgamated to form 10th (Shropshire & Cheshire Yeomanry) Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. In June 1917 my grandfather was appointed Acting Sergeant, and in October 1917 he was studying at Cadet Class, Cairo. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment in December 1917. I have a 200 page book of beautifully written notes from his Cadet Class. What I am trying to understand is the process of promotion. Would the Officer training be something he applied for or was recommended for? With regards to the 'Cadet Class, Cairo', I am seeking where it may have been based and what if any records might survive. If anyone has any thoughts as to the likelihood of any records surviving and where they might be I would be delighted to here. Thanks, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullybrone Posted 23 October , 2017 Share Posted 23 October , 2017 Hi, Have you looked for his officer file at U.K. National Archives? I’m sure if you post your grandfathers details a member may be able to assist further. Good Luck Steve Y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwwjournal Posted 23 October , 2017 Author Share Posted 23 October , 2017 Thanks for the interest - yes I have his service records and quite a few notes of his. Thomas Minshall was at the 2nd Battle of Gaza and I posted a blog about that: http://fwwjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/second-battle-of-gaza.html Work back from there and there is further information on his service in earlier posts. What I have never been able to find is anything specifically about the Cadet Class in Cairo. I have relevant War Diaries that cover the time of his active service. It’s the Army organisation around officer training I am interested in. When it was established in Cairo, where, who ran it... David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 23 October , 2017 Share Posted 23 October , 2017 Mate, Officer cadets appear to be nominated by the Unit Commanding Officer. These are sent to Brigade where the final names are confirmed to be sent to OCS. In most cases the Brigade commander would interview them for the final names. In Egypt the main OCS was at Zeitoun which open in early 1916 (first AIF cadets sent there) or in 1915? Details on this place have been very hard to confirm. We talked about this place some where here, so check the old postings Cheers S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwwjournal Posted 24 October , 2017 Author Share Posted 24 October , 2017 December 1916 Cheshire Yeomanry were at Alamein. Their War Diary notes that they were undergoing instruction in infantry drill "under supervision of Lieut. Barron 1/4 Northamptonshire Regiment, detailed from the school of instruction at Zeitoun." My grandfather's note book from October 1917 quite clearly says "'Cadet Class, Cairo" - perhaps given the proximity of the camp to the City he was at Zeitoun? Another little piece in the puzzle to solve... David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 24 October , 2017 Share Posted 24 October , 2017 Mate, This is from a ALH War Diary which I wrote about some time ago; "This continued into 1918, but to confuse the issue some new officers were being sent to what was called, the Jnr Officers course at Kelab. while this school gave the officer some training it was only about one month? an Interesting coment in the 4th LH Bde war diary dated May 1918 shows what could have happened , but didn't always? dated 26-5-18 (an early order had asked for 13 candidates for OCS) GOC 4 LH Bde to interview candidates for admissions to officer cadet unit; T/Cpl Brodie 4 LHR Sgt Cruckshank 4 LHR Sgt Rede 4 LHR Sgt Whitfield 4 LHR SSM Griffiths 11 LHR Sgt Billington 11 LHR SSM Adams 11 LHR Sgt Allan 11 LHR Sgt Smith 12 LHR RSM Finlayson 12 LHR Arm/Cpl Eyre 12 LHR Sgt Haydon 12 LHR Sgt Keay 4 MGS L/Cpl Taylor 4 MGS Wo1 Story 4 LHFA Follow this interview the following names were withdrawn; T/Cpl Brodie Sgt Allan Sgt Smith Sgt Keay And some other details; Zeitoun I have been trying to track down more on this place but Aussie records are short on of this British Training Area. But the AOWH by Gullett has some details page 533. But he stated 1918 we started to send cadets there in Dec 1917. Zeitoun was a large British training Area, courses were going on there for NCO's and officers, these included the skill at arms courses like, Musketry, and MG (Lewis, Hotchkiss and Vickers) courses. They also ran fighting courses like bayonet, trench warfare and bombing courses. Then they also ran the prom courses for NCO and officers like the cavalry and Officer general courses as well as a Topography course for officers. An interesting course for NCO's and officers was the Range Finding/Taking course. I am sure I missed some of those courses, as finding a list of the units there, and what they did has been a problem, But both officers and NCO (with some soldiers) spent some time at this place leaning the skills of a soldier and officer in the Army. Hope that helps S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwwjournal Posted 25 October , 2017 Author Share Posted 25 October , 2017 My grandfather's hand written note book from his training covers the following subjects: Care of Arms Musketry Topography Equipment Bayonet Fighting Knots Military Law Field Training Physical Training Discipline Organisation & Training of a Platoon Manmastership Out-Posts Range Charts Field Fortifications Lewis & Machine Gun March DIscipline Message Forms Advance Guards Artillery Formation Range Duties & Discipline Trench Routine Bombing Artillery Co-operations Patrols Orders & Messages Interior Economy Organisation of a Battalion Night Operations Evacuation of Wounded Defence The note book is dated 28 October 1917, and carries his name, company, platoon, section and "Cadet Class, Cairo, Egypt". He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to 15th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Bn. Suffolk Regiment in December 1917 David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwwjournal Posted 28 October , 2017 Author Share Posted 28 October , 2017 100 years ago today, my grandfather, Thomas Minshall 10th (Shropshire & Cheshire Yeomanry) Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry, commenced officer training at a Cadet Class in Cairo. From discussion above this is likely to have been at the Imperial School of Instruction Zeitoun, a suburb of the city. A 200 page book of Thomas’ beautifully written notes from his class survives, neatly inscribed with his name, company, platoon and section, and dated 28 October 1917. I have added a short post about this to my blog: Cadet Class, Cairo. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 28 October , 2017 Share Posted 28 October , 2017 Mate, Sorry but was there a list of the men on his course? I just wanted to cross check with the AIF ALH men sent there around the same time? Cheers S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwwjournal Posted 30 October , 2017 Author Share Posted 30 October , 2017 All I have is the note book - if I ever come across supplementary information I’ll post here. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaureenE Posted 28 March , 2018 Share Posted 28 March , 2018 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-533356253/view?partId=nla.obj-533369347#page/n33/mode/2up page 2O The Diary of an Australian Soldier (Captain K.J. Barrett) 1921 The author attended an officers training school at Zeitoun in June 1915 and was then commissioned into the 2nd Royal Fusiliers. Cheers Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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