Good afternoon, I am currently researching a chap who was commissioned into the Essex Regiment on 29th March 1941, the London Gazette mentions that he is one of those commissioned from the following OCTUs: 163 which I believe was the Artists Rifles 167 168 which I think was based at Aldershot He was a resident of Tottenham, London prior to enlisting would this or his selected regiment have any impact on which OCTU he was trained at? Many thanks Daz
Quite the opposite, he would be sent to an OCTU from which he would be Commissioned into a Regiment who required his skills. Usually not the one he was sent from, so that he would not have been known as an Ordinary Rank before he was Commissioned as an Officer. It could be difficult for a new Officer if he returned to his Regiment to find someone such as senior NCO who applied and failed to get to an OCTU. It was considered better to make a new start in another Regiment. List of Officer Cadet Training Units - Wikipedia 163 OCTU Artists Rifles - Wikipedia 167 OCTU Private Papers of Lieutenant H T Bone 167 OCTU at Droitwich is totally unknown to me, it does not appear on the Wikipedia list of OCTU. (See Chateau Impney below). Droitwich was a major BBC Transmitter Station. BBC - Hereford and Worcester - About Worcestershire - Droitwich calling. In summer 1944, the Droitwich transmitter played a part in the D-Day landings. Chateau Impney, Worcestershire, England In the Second World War the hotel was requisitioned for the purposes of Officer Cadet training. 168 OCTU Aldershot AUXILIARY TERRITORIAL SERVICE. (Hansard, 22 August 1940) 1st Aldershot Auxiliary Territorial Service, 168 O.C.T.U., Ramillies Barracks, Aldershot
Much more research needs to be done regarding OCTU in WW2. The Mention of Droitwich came as a surprise. This was a quick and shallow search which could benefit from further investigation if anyone has the time. Several OCTU's changed their geographical positions and purpose during WW2 and would take some tracking. A few examples: 164 OCTU – Information Request OCTU ATS 123rd Officer Cadet Training Regiment, RA
