Desk job military in WWI

[Vimeira]

Thanks again for the directory link. That's the one. Still don't know what he actually did in the West Yorkshire Regiment, but you've managed to identify him.

[Vimeira]

A further question - I think his medal card at https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1262/images/30850_A001562-01414 shows that he got a badge, not a medal. The ref no given is 9/14/2835 - does this tell us anything more? Thanks.

[alan o]

I suspect it was a silver war badge for early discharge.  https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/silver-war-badge-and-kings-certificate-of-discharge

Bearing in mind he was in UK for the war and his age, then it is likely due to becoming over age,  illness or general ill health rather than any military action.

[Vimeira]

Thanks, that would make sense since he was (back) in Staffordshire in 1918. He was reportedly in a "Territorial Force Reserve" for the West Yorks Regiment. I'm not sure what they actually did, and where.

[alan o]

This is the best explanation:  https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/enlisting-into-the-army/british-army-reserves-and-reservists/the-territorial-force-reserve/

In simple terms he was enlisted in the Territorial Reserve rather than the Territorial Force proper.  So he was not liable to be sent overseas but might be called up to the TF if needed.  Otherwise he remained a civilian.  As was 46 in 1914 he was unlikely to be mobilised for the TF especially as he was a junior officer despite his advanced age.

Whilst he held a commission I think it rather presumptuous be be using the title of Captain after the war as he did not actually serve in the Regular, the Terrritorial Force or even a war raised battalion.  However he may have had pre-war service in the TF which enabled him to enlist in the TFR.

[ShaunJ]

Some TFR references for him ( at one point in 1916 he was a temporary major):

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/6b08d413-8ed8-486b-b195-15d73b4ffac4

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/24dc3390-882d-4128-a79c-c4afa4e9d4b6

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/24dc3390-882d-4128-a79c-c4afa4e9d4b6

[ShaunJ]

Granted the honorary rank of Captain from 20 January 1918

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30567/supplement/3089

[Vimeira]

Thanks Alan. Yes, the Captain title did draw my attention to him as it was unusual round here (not many officers).  He attended Sedbergh public school and Haileybury Imperial Service College (Herts), so there may have been some sort of cadet force there, more likely Sedbergh; otherwise he was mostly in Nigeria.

Thanks Shaun, the fact they are Yorkshire newspapers suggests he may have been in Yorkshire 1916-18. And yes an honorary Captain.

[ShaunJ]

Per the Sedbergh School register he was a cattle farmer in Queensland from 1887 before going to Nigeria in 1905.