Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Quick question on officer promotion


FrancesH

Recommended Posts

Isaac Usher left Sandhurst in May 1915 and joined the Royal Irish Regiment. At this point he was (obviously) a 2nd Lt. However, by the time he joined the 2nd Battalion in November, he had become a full lieutenant. He'd been with their reserve battalion up to then. What would have earned him a promotion?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It was not uncommon for second lieutenants to be promoted after about six months. It is possible that he may have been a little older than other officers of his unit, or that his progress at Sandhurst and subsequently justified a slightly accelerated promotion.

 

Ron

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Admin

As Ron says it was possible to be promoted to full lieutenant after 6 months but it certainly wasn't automatic as two officers of battalion commanding rank had to be provided as referees (at least in my great grandfather's case - sadly he wasn't successful even though 1 of them did recommend him, the other couldn't remember him).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for replying!

I was surprised because none of the other members of E Company whom I am tracking got promoted before joining their battalions, including Douglas Wimberley (later a general), who was the senior sergeant of E Company. Also Isaac was definitely not older than the average (born May 1896). I realise I probably won't get a definite answer to this small point, however!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi David, yes I have his service record, thank you. It sheds no light on this particular point, however. Isaac is a rather shadowy figure altogether so I shouldn't perhaps be surprised! 

usher.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...