Joining units without local connections

[Kate Wills]

We are all familiar with Tom, Dick and Harry going down to the nearest recruiting office and signing on the dotted line for the county regiment, but was was the process for joining formations without local links, such as the Artillery?

Also, how did men with a particular trade find their way into the REs and other specialist units?

[Guest Pete Wood]

Also, how did men with a particular trade find their way into the REs and other specialist units?

Pte George Duncan McDouglad, an artist and sculptor, joined the London Scottish at the outbreak of war.

In 1916, according to a letter he wrote to his family, his unit was asked (on parade) if anyone had artistic leanings - I know it sounds like a scene from Blackadder, but it's true.

In under two weeks, he was transferred to the Royal Engineers where he worked in the Camouflage Section.

He finished the war as a Sapper, and was never in trouble. So I am unable to explain his lack of promotion.

McDougald was the runner-up in the competition to design the memorial plaques, given to the next of kin of those who died in the war.

[Terry_Reeves]

Kate

I'm sure this will prompt a lot of answers and a whole host of anomalies as well . One way of enlisting into the RA or RE, prior to conscription, was to volunteer for service in Kitchener units which were raised for these two organisations in the same way as the Kitchener infantry battalions were.

As far as the RE units were concerned in this respect, many were raised from about March 1915, as Fortress Companies and later that year were redesignated as Army Troops Companies. As an example, the Mayor and Corporation of Coventry raised the Coventry Fortress Company RE at the behest of the War Office in March 1915, which was later redesignated 214 Army Troops Company. These units were approximately one hundred strong and consisted mainly of artisans.

There was no particular requirement for a trade or skill however in most RE units, as they would be taught things like Field Works or signals skills after enlistment. Those men who happened to have an artisan trade of course could be utilised appropriately.

Terry Reeves