Choice of regiments

[PhilB]

Is there any evidence that, in the later years of the war when many rankers were being commissioned, they had much choice of regiment? Phil B

[themonsstar]

Hi m13pgb

This is from Lt D.J. Dean VCs notes

After St Omer, i went into the line near Plugstreet. We didn't stay there long and then went down to the Somme. i transferred into the Royal west Kents in 1916. I was commissioned into the 11th Batt. We were given a choice of regiment and, if there were vacancies in our first or second choice, we were commissioned into it. if no vacancies, we were sent to where we were wanted. Col D.J. Dean was the last surviving British soldier of the Great War to hold the Victoria Cross. to die

[Muerrisch]

There appears to be a difference in the treatment of [pre-war] regulars and later joiners. In RWF, an NCO or WO commissioned in the field remained with his regiment and the commission was Regular, ie he still had a job with the outbreak of peace. One case, Sgt Major Fox, indeed said he would take no other commission than to stay with his own battalion, and got it.