Commissions

[Northern Soul]

Trawling through the local newspaper I found a reference to a man with a local connection who became a casualty. He was in the RAOC and the newspaper was quite specific about him being a Second Lieutenant, along with the man killed with him (they were killed just after midnight by shellfire while in billets). When I looked them up on the CWGC database I was a bit surprised to find the following:

BARLOW

Initials: W H

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Serjeant Major

Regiment/Service: Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Date of Death: 02/05/1917

Service No: T/1069

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. E. 26.

Cemetery: FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY, ARRAS

GREENFIELD, FREDERICK

Initials: F

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Serjeant Major

Regiment/Service: Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Age: 29

Date of Death: 02/05/1917

Service No: T/1260

Additional information: Son of Frederick and Ellen Greenfield, of 39, Northgate St., Colchester.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. E. 27.

Cemetery: FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY, ARRAS

Looking at their MICs they are both recorded as Second Lieutenants, but the telling thing is that they had actually only been commissioned the day previously, on May 1st. So, my question is, what were the rules about being commissioned from the ranks (when did it officially take effect) and were they Second Lieutenants or Sergeant Majors?

Best wishes.

Andy.

MICs for Barlow and Greenfield:

[SteveE]

Andy

I'm sure somebody will be able to quote "chapter and verse" as to the rules etc. In my opinion the commission as Second Lieutenant took effect from the 1st May and they should be recorded as such by CWGC.

The Gazette entry for their commissions wasn't published until 11th February 1918.....

The undermentioned to be temp. 2nd Lts., Gen. List, for duty with A. Ord. Dept. 1st May 1917: —

Actg. Armt. Serjt-Maj. F. Greenfield, A.O.C. (since killed in action).

Actg. Armt. Serjt.-Maj. W. H. Barlow, A.O.C. (since killed in action).

Link to the Gazette is Here

Regards

Steve