Sniper Officer E G Peecock

[Matt Dixon]

2nd Lt Edward Gordon Peecock, 9th Royal Fusiliers, killed at Ovillers 7th July 1916.

He was Battalion "Sniper Officer"....does this mean he was in charge of a company of snipers, or would it mean he was a sniper himself?

[charlesmessenger]

It meant that he was in charge of the battalion snipers, which would not have been more than a dozen or so. Other battalions designated his job as Scout officer, socuts being the battalion's reconnaissance element, which would also man observation posts in the trneches. Other still but scouts and snipers under the Bn intelligence officer.

Charles M

[Muerrisch]

Totally agree. Worth adding that, as far as I can tell, neither 'Scout' nor 'Intelligence' nor 'Sniper' nor 'Observer' Officers were ever made established posts ...... they were a secondary duty for a company officer, and the secondary duty was often all they had time for.

This in distinction to 'Lewis Gun', Signals' 'Bombing' who were all on establishment by 1917.