OTCs in France 1918

[sbrownlee]

I'm trying to find out where my grandparents met, since my grandmother was nursing in France Oct 1914-June 1919 and my grandfather (who was mostly in Egypt, Macedonia and Mesopotamia with the 9th Brigade) was commissioned in April 1918 so apparently he may have been sent to an OTC in France instead of England.

My grandmother was at no.8 hospital in Boulogne for the whole of 1918 and at the 'California' convalescent home for officers in Cannes from Jan-Jun 1919, so it's also possible my grandfather was sent there to convalesce from some wound/illness. (They married in July 1919, back home.)

Any pointers greatly appreciated

SB

[charlesmessenger]

The only cadet school in France by late 1917 was the GHQ Cadet School at Blendecques near St Omer. However, this was closed down before the end of the year. Therefore your grandfather would almost certainly have carried out his officer training at an Officer Cadet bn in UK. Have you tried to track down your grandfather's personal file under WO 339 or WO 374 at the National Archives at Kew? These files often provide details of an officer's movements.

Charles M

[sbrownlee]

Thanks Charles. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find records for him either at the NA (except for his medal card) or via the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow.

Do you happen to know if records still exist for the UK officer cadet battalions, with lists of cadets' names?

And - an even longer shot - is it conceivable that officers from Indian divisions fighting in the Balkans or the Middle East may have been sent to the south of France to convalesce from a wound/illness?

SB

[Gunner Bailey]

Could it be the army school of instruction at Auxi - le -Chateau? Only 45 miles from Boulogne.

Gunner Bailey