Welch regiment 1916

[Guest rosemaryantwis]

Why would a soldier, a corporal, having been promoted to Sergeant on 5.8.1916 then ask to be a corporal again on 30.9.1916, bearing in mind the loss of status and pay involved. I am aware that he may have found the responsibility too much but we are talking about someone who joined up on 13.8.1914 and had done well since then , mentioned twice for good work in the War Diaries and later to get a M.M. and become a Second lieutenant so not a shirker by any means! Any ideas.

He was in the 9th. Battalion

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

Some people didn't want the extra responsibility, plus the relationship with their mates in the ranks changed, which they didn't like - difficult without knowing the man.

Seen it a few times in service records but mainly Cpl back to the ranks.

Ian

[jhill]

I know this happened frequently in the Canadian service. Usually this was someone who had been promoted before arriving in England. After 1916 there was much prejudice against accepting NCOs (or commisioned officers!) in front line units unless they had front line experience. Serjeants who wanted to get to the front needed to give up their stripes.

Of course, there were probably other reasons in other circumstances.