"Absorbed into Establishment"

[BillyH]

A soldier I have been looking at was posted to a different battalion of the same regiment towards the end of the war and he was "absorbed into est." of his new battalion.

I am assuming that the est. is short for establishment but I would like to know if there is any particular significance to that term.

Or perhaps it is just simply army speak for 'joined his new battalion'?

 

BillyH.

Edited 31 December , 2018 by BillyH

[Scalyback]

Was the old battalion disbanded or merged into another like The Monmouth Regiment?

[Heid the Ba]

I think it means he was initially attached to the new battalion rather then transferred to it, then at a later date he was transferred and absorbed into it.

[Steven Broomfield]

I assume he was fully integrated: for example, the 2nd London Scottish received a draft of a company of Gordons; these were always attached and kept their Gordon badges/tartan, etc. I imagine that had they ever re-badged and adopted Hodden Grey they would have been considered as merged into the establishment, the Gordon Highlanders losing all claim on them.

 

As suggested, this may well happen if a battalion was disbanded and the presonnel distributed elsewhere.

[BillyH]

Thanks for the replies. The man in question had been with the 10th Cheshires, who were reduced to cadre strength on 21st June 1918 - shortly before he was 'absorbed into establishment' with the 4th Battalion.

 

BillyH.

Edited 31 December , 2018 by BillyH