Messina1915 Posted 2 May , 2008 Share Posted 2 May , 2008 I apologise for my ignorance, but please could somebody answer the following questions or point me in the right directions of the answers? How many men in a section, platoon, company, battalion, brigade, division, etc? And what rank of officer (NCO in the case of a section, I think?) would be in charge of each of the units? I have a vague idea of some of the answers, but having seen apparently contradictory information in different accounts of battles, I'm rather confused! Cheers, Carole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heid the Ba Posted 2 May , 2008 Share Posted 2 May , 2008 How long is a piece of string? Roughly: 10, 30, 120, 800, 3,500, 14,000 for the BEF in 1914 at full strength; in the field it could be anywhere down to 25% of that and rarely more than 75%. In 1918 divisions went from 12 battalions to 9 with consequent reductions in strength. Commanded by: corporal, lt, captain, colonel, brigadier general, major general. Again this would vary with casualties so it was common for officers to command one formation higher than recommended. You will for example find reference to battalions of 200 commanded by lieutenants until they could be reformed and new officers and men attached. Companies were often reduced to 30 or so and lead by serjeants etc. I have no doubt someone will provide the links I can't find to chapter and verse but that is the broad picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geraint Posted 2 May , 2008 Share Posted 2 May , 2008 My reading of it is that an infantry battalion in 1914 was composed of about 28 officers + NCOs and about 950 men when in full strength; with a Lieutenant Colonel as CO, a Major as 2nd in command, and by 1914, the battalion was divided into 4 companies, each of about 230 men under a Captain and a Company Sargeant Major. My understanding is that the companies were sub-divided into Sections, under a Lieutenant and 2nd Lieutenant, with Sergeant NCO, with further subdivisions into platoons under Sergeants / Corporals. They varied. In 'my' battalion' 4th RWF Tf, the Companies were recruited on a geographic basis. Companies A, B, C had full complements of 200+ each from the populous parts of Denbighshire, wheras D had only 78 men from my home town. The various sub-divisions would have been unecessary there. Brigades, under a Brigadier General would consist of about 4 battalions. A Division would consist of about 4 Infantry Brigades 4 R Field artillery Brigades 1 Heavy Battery 1 Squadron Yeomanry/Cavalry 1 Heavy trench mortar battery 3 Medium " " " 3 Light " " " 4 Machine gun companies 1 Signal Company 1 Cyclist Company 3 ASC companies divisional train 1 Company mechanical transport 3 Field ambulance Companies 1 Mobile Vetinary Section 1 Clerking Company These figures are based on the 38th Welsh Division. A division would be commanded by a Major General. I'm sure a far greater authority than I will come along with more info. Hope this helps Geraint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messina1915 Posted 2 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2008 Thanks guys Geraint - I always wondered what a Major did - I knew Captains commanded companies but I could never work out what Majors did Cheers Carole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geraint Posted 2 May , 2008 Share Posted 2 May , 2008 Carole I think that Majors also undertook the role of Adjutant - the Chief Exec if you like of the battalion, whilst the CO was Director!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 2 May , 2008 Share Posted 2 May , 2008 The regular infantry went to war at full strength except that many platoons were commanded by a sergeant, rather than subaltern. From the official War Establishment: Battalion HQ. Commanded by Lt-Col Senior Major also called 2 ic, a Major Adjt [might be Lt, Capt, exceptionally Major] QM [usually ex-ranks, Lt, Capt or Major] Medical Officer RAMC Transport officer [dual role, was also a platoon-commanding subaltern] Sergeant Major QM Sergeant [rank Quartermaster sergeant] Orderly Room Clerk [rank Quartermaster sergeant or Colour Sgt or Sgt] Sergeant drummer sergeant cook Transport sgt Sgt shoemaker Pioneer sgt signaller sgt armourer sgt plus batmen, drivers, signallers, stretcher bearers [bandsmen], pioneers, medical orderlies, ASC drivers, total HQ 74 all ranks MG section subaltern, sergeant, corporal, 12 men, 2 drivers, 1 batman Four companies each: Major or Captain commanding, Captain 2ic CSM CQMS 4 subalterns each commanding a platoon, each of 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 drummer, 47 private men, 1 batman A few odds and sods omitted for clarity and brevity Total all ranks excluding First reinforcement 1007. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 2 May , 2008 Share Posted 2 May , 2008 I think that Majors also undertook the role of Adjutant - the Chief Exec if you like of the battalion, whilst the CO was Director!! Dont wish to disagree but... Adjt woudl have been a captain; a major would have either been the Bn second in command (although I do see the link to Ch Exec) or commanding a company. That said, once battle was joined - and casualties started to be taken - most offciers and NCos wold have been "acting up" at least one possibly two levels. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 2 May , 2008 Share Posted 2 May , 2008 You could try reading the definitions of the strength of units and formations, given on the Long, Long Trail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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