Recruitment process

Discussion in 'General' started by SuzQ, Oct 9, 2015.

  1. SuzQ

    SuzQ Member

    Hi All

    Firstly, I would just like to say thank you for all the words of encouragement re my posting on 'What If' and as you can see, I am now taking the first plunge and dipping the toes in the water.

    My list of questions seem to be constantly growing with the more I read (and they really are all so novice basic i'm afraid), and can only apologise in advance if some of them have already been answered in previous threads and its just a case that I haven't found them, or the answers yet.

    Having read recollections about recruitment in the 1940's, (thanks to our Veterans on here), but with the ever changing goal posts as the war progressed, would the same process have applied in November 1939?

    Going back in the old memory bank, I seem to remember Dad saying that he volunteered rather than wait to be conscripted - would he have just walked in to an office, signed up and then waited for a letter telling him where and when to go?

    He went in to the Army - would he have had the choice or just have been told?

    He was assigned (if that's the right word) to the Royal Artillery - again would he have had the choice of just been told?

    His rank was Gunner - would this have been decided via the same process as later years eg various tests to determine best aptitude?

    Now....my list of questions could go on but I am fast becoming aware on just how long this posting already is....(talk about unleash the beast!!!).....so I will leave it at that for now and once again say sorry if I am repeating same old questions and many thanks for taking the time to read this if you have got this far.

    Suz
     
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  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    My mates Dad volunteered & joined the RASC because he wanted to avoid the infantry.

    Turns out his job was quite dangerous as he ended up driving fuel tankers in North Africa & Italy with the perils that entailed.
     
  3. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    SuzQ

    by the end of 1941- AlanBrooke had taken over the job of CIGS - and changed just about everything with the introduction of the General Service Corps which took on the raw recruits and gave

    them six weeks of Infantry training to ascertain which end of a rifle,and other guns, caused all the damage and to test them to see where they would best serve the Army as a square peg in a

    square hole. And the days of some unemployed type walking into a recruiting office and saying he wanted to be a General were over,coincidently we started to win the war with Monty taking

    over the 8th Amy and giving Rommel his first bloody nose at Wadi Alum Halfa - we never lost another battle...

    Cheers
     
  4. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Hi SuzQ,

    In October 1939 the British government announced that all men aged between 18 and 41 who were not working in 'reserved occupations' could be called to join the armed services if required. Conscription was based on age and in October 1939 men aged between 20 and 23 were required to register to serve in one of the armed forces but as the years progressed other age groups were added. They were allowed to choose between the army, the navy and the airforce but often their choices were ignored I think they could state a preference but again in the end I think they were put where they were needed most.

    Kyle

    More here;-

    http://www.historyonthenet.com/ww2/conscription.htm
     
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  5. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    My Father, aged 23, a Yorkshireman, volunteered for the RAF at the declaration of war and was then cordially invited by His Majesty's Government to report to the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders in Inverness, and ultimately ends up as a Infantry man with The Highland Division.!!
     
  6. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    I have attached the public notice from the Dundee Courier and Advertiser dated 1st August 1939 that my dad read.

    He joined up on 1st September 1939 and by January 1940 was driving trucks in France.

    Gus
     

    Attached Files:

  7. SuzQ

    SuzQ Member

    Hi All

    Thanks so much for your replies, they have definitely given me an insight........and with yours Owen, I could so easily go off topic because you mentioned tankers, North Africa and Italy which are areas which I have quite an extensive list of questions on! and likewise Tom, because you were in both those places, plus Egypt which I need to learn more about once I have got to the end of Dad's service.

    But....I'm going to be good (for once) and not go off at tangents.

    Thanks for the explanation and website Kyle, I am going to enjoy reading through that because there are some interesting things on there that I am still learning about.

    And that advert Gus....what a wonderful piece of history to have in your memory box and I should imagine that adverts like would have been in all the newspapers? because I can imagine Dad reading something like that and applying.

    Following from what you mentioned Highland.....your Dad wanting the RAF and ending up in the Infantry, he must have been gutted! and opens up more thoughts on just how difficult it must have been to be placed in a unit where you didn't really want to be.....I mean, you couldn't just say 'no, not going, changed my mind, handing in my notice!

    So, I think the answer to my question would be.... 'hope for the best, expect the worse and take what comes'

    Just out of interest Tom.....(and please forgive my terminology here)....you were in Tanks - is that what you hoped for or did you have any other preferences prior to being assigned?

    thanks again
    Suz
     
  8. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    My father grew up near Kenley and also wished to join the RAF as aircrew. He joined the A.T.C. (Air Training Corps) at 16 but was eventually classed as medically unfit for flying duties. He therefore volunteered for Army (rather than risk, he says, conscription as a 'Bevin Boy'). The Army gave him a B1 classification but he had been re-graded as A1 within six months.

    Having learned wireless procedure and Morse code with the A.T.C., he had an advantage in this area and after his initial period with the General Service Corps and completing his primary training at Chesterfield, it was suggested that he should apply for Royal Corps of Signals where he was appointed (acting, unpaid) Lance Corporal within the first week in order to assist the squad instructor on the signals course.

    He still considers himself fortunate in how things turned out as the P.T.C. squad that he trained with were largely allocated as infantry to the Sherwood Foresters and were sent to Anzio where they took a hell of a pasting.
     
  9. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Hi Suz, an interesting post, in my Father's case he was in the TA and then the general service corps. When he was called up he went straight into Royal Artllery. He said thats where he wanted to be. Although I don't think he had much choice in the matter. Strange thing was he was ranked a private in the TA. and a gunner in the Royal Artillery (I believe they where ranked the same) yet he was not happy at losing his rank as Private.


    David
     
  10. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Suz

    My first thoughts on being called up was to join my Father's old regiment of the KOSB's - then finally understanding that the PBI were the worst off , I was hoping for something else and was

    pleased to be sent to Tank training - with the Horse Guards ……! Trained on all sorts of light pursuit Tanks - sent overseas to a Regiment which had the very Heavy Churchill Tanks - which I had

    never seen etc - so went into Battle with those ….after recovering from wounds - was trained on Armoured Cars - and sent to a regiment which had Sherman's ……. BUT had I been in the Infantry

    - I would probably not be here to-day...

    Cheers
     
  11. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Hi Suz, hope do not mind me hijacking your post. On the subject of recruitment Tom, how many uniforms where issued to a soldier? I have often wondered as presumably they where laundered at some point, how did this work? The logistics of day to day activities that we all take for granted has always intrigued me.


    David
     
  12. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Lotus

    Two uniforms were issued - with one kept as "best" for BIG parades etc - laundry was accomplished by the use of petrol until Bath Units became common where we stripped down - had a

    shower - then we were handed a füll uniform complete with underwear - second hand of course but would be changed after another week or so…….read about an Officer who had his uniform

    cleaned by petrol and hung in his tent - he went in the tent smoking and caught the petrol fumes - they blew up and killed him ……it happened...

    Cheers
     
  13. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Thanks Tom, for the info. Unfortunate act by the officer, don't think it was the first time he did that just unlucky that time......


    David
     
  14. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Hello Suz

    Any interesting info on his service records


    My Dad got his call up in September 1940.He was 29 and ended up in the RA 116th Light anti aircraft regiment where all the chaps were late twenties and early thirties,quite a lot older than the norm

    Regards
    Clive
     
  15. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    On the subject of clothing, my Dad remembered an "amusing" incident in late 1940 .. I'm meeting up tomorrow with one of the men on parade that day in 1940 - and I'll ask him what he remembers:

    “..We were moved in our fleet of assorted vehicles to the grounds of Eaton Hall, the Duke of Westminster’s palatial home near Knutsford in Cheshire. An army camp had been built using lines of camouflaged bell tents. There was no flooring and about a dozen men had to sleep in each tent with their feet towards the centre pole. After a few days, it appeared that the tent walls were moving. It immediately transpired that we were infested with lice. The previous occupants had been evacuees from Europe who had left us a legacy.”
    “Company by company, we were to be disinfested. E Company was first. F Company followed. The treatment involved putting all clothing and equipment in an apparatus which baked the animals. Unfortunately, every crease was baked into the uniforms as well. Those creases were completely irremovable, remaining until the next uniform exchange. It was also rumoured that the lice were cooked but still alive. The regiment’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Randle Starkey, was incensed. He made representations for the process to change by the time it was G Company’s turn. On the day, we were ordered to strip naked and to wrap all our belongings carefully inside a clean blanket. These bundles were put across a hedge into a field near to which were parked vehicles with massive pipes playing into their interiors. The clothes and equipment were put into the machinery and gas was pumped in. Meanwhile, the orderly sergeant, Corporal Belding, called on parade about 100 stark-naked men who were formed up in their platoons wearing boots and steel helmets only. Belding was more dressed than we: he wore a webbing belt and bayonet as well. Calling us to attention, he reported to G Company second-in-command Captain Bartlett who was dressed. He solemnly returned his salute and proceeded to inspect the company, occasionally adjusting the angle of the men’s helmets..."
     
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  16. SuzQ

    SuzQ Member

    Thanks Rich and Clive.....and David, your not hijacking - the door is wide open, so thanks for putting the question about uniforms and also to Tom for giving the answer and another classic recollection.

    I am now wondering if that could have been a similar incident that caused the store tent to be burnt out, and 19 OR's kits went up in smoke with it!?? because unfortunately the war diary doesn't give the answer

    In answer to your question Clive, Dad was a gunner in the RA, firstly in a Field Regiment, then Medium and then on returning to the UK via Python in 1945, he was posted to 1st A/Tank Range Depot (and I still need to try and find out about this last bit)....so nothing interesting or spectacular I'm afraid.

    With the changes in the guns that Dad dealt with, plus those men which started out in one unit and ended up in another and then Tom having been trained on light pursuit tanks but ended up in a Heavy Churchill, having not even seen one before....my next question was going to be about how did they cope with learning the new equipment whilst in action?

    But thanks to Tom, he has answered it..... without even sitting at the keyboard! :)

    How?.....well.....Not wanting to show my ignorance (again), I did a search to look up KOSB and quickly came across the BBC site and have just finished reading a wonderful recollection.

    I have come across quite a few, what I consider Golden Classics.....two come instantly to mind - the Green Envelope (Tom) and the Compo Rations (Brian - Sapper)......the recollections, which for me, have made me sit back, think and realise the true harsh reality, but they also have the gift of wonderful sense of humour that leaves a smile on my face......and now this one has been firmly added to the old memory bank too!

    Unfortunately, I don't know how to link it, or even if its allowed? and you may have already read it, but just in case you've missed it, I think its definitely worth reading....plus, it has certainly answered my question....

    Q.... How was training carried out whilst in the field of action?
    A....The hard way.....and PDQ!!

    Suz
     
  17. SuzQ

    SuzQ Member

    Ha ha....absolutely brilliant Bexley :lol:...definitely another Golden Classic!

    thanks for sharing it with us

    Suz
     
  18. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Thanks for sharing Bexley, what a rude awakening. Dad said he hated the recruitment medical standing in line naked, could not wait to get dressed. Must have been quite a shock for someone so young.

    David
     
  19. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Uniform out in the warmer climes of India and Burma were washed by the "dhobi wallah",when in camp.Once out in the field soldiers used streams.Before leaving the UK all kit issued to the 9th Btn.Royal Sussex was the wrong colour and had to be dyed "jungle green" ready for action.
     
  20. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Shiny 9th

    Having the wrong coloured uniform reminds me of one chap in our detail when we were on Guard duty at Algiers Docks-he decided to snoop around as to what we were guarding-

    and came back with three NEW uniforms - one of which he wore for last parade - the SSM thought he looked out of place - and invited him to the SSM's office - we never saw him again

    as he was wearing a Canadian Green/Khaki Uniform ...

    Cheers
     
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