Date

Notes

1914/09/20

Camb & County School Officer Training Cadet (OTC) until 20th September 1914

1916/07/03

Cambridge University Officers Training Corps (CUOTC)

Officer Training Corps were formed in 1908 at Universities and Public Schools to attract young men into the army and carry out training sufficient to allow the recruit to be commissioned. There were 23 OTC contingents of the 'Senior Division' at Universities and 166 of the 'Junior Division' at schools.

In February 1916, a new system of training for officers was introduced, after which temporary commissions could only be granted if a man had been through an Officer Cadet unit. Entrants would have to be aged over 18 and a half, and to have served as a ranker or to have been with an OTC. The training course lasted four and a half months. The Officer Cadet Battalion had an establishment of 400 cadets at any time (although this was raised to 600 - if the unit could accommodate them - in May 1917). More than 73,000 men gained infantry commissions after being trained in an OTB, with increasing numbers coming from 'the ranks' as the war went on.

1916/07/05

Applied for a Commission in the Army. Application approved by Commander-in-Chief Eastern Command 8th February 1917

1916/08/12

Enlisted as a Private (Service Number 329012) in the Cambridgeshire Regiment. Part of the Officer recruitment process (he was not 18 and a half), continued to serve as a Cambridge University OTC

1917/03/09

Called Up (following Commissioning approval 8th February 1917) and sent to 20th Officer Cadet Battalion, Crookham, Aldershot

1917/08/28

Discharged from the Cambridgeshire Regiment on successful completion of Officer training

1917/08/29

Formally commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Allocated to the 12^th (home training) Battalion

1917/11/03

Joined 36 D Infantry Base Depot located at Harfleur (near Le Havre) France as a 2nd Lieutenant in 11th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

1917/11/17

Joined battalion in the field. 11th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Between 20th November 1917 and mid December the battalion fought in the battle of Cambrai.

1918/01/26

Sent to Hospital via 108 Field Ambulance and 61 Casualty Clearing Station with Bronchitis.

1918/02/02

Returned to Unit

1918/03/08

Posted to (on the strength of) 7/8th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers but remained with 23rd Entrenching Battalion.

The New Year was spent in trench routine at Selente and St Simon before the battalion received news on February 1st 1918 that it was to be disbanded as part of a general re-organisation of the Army. They were in the area of Artemps, and on February 21st the 11th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers ceased to exist. Its war service had come to an end. The men who remained were joined with the remaining men of the 14th (Service) Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and were re-styled as the 23rd Entrenching Battalion under Lt/ Col. the Honourable, Odo Richard Vivian lately of the 14th RIR.

1918/04/06

Joined 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – Location ‘Woincourt’ then ‘Poelcappelle’ (NE side of Ypres salient) by 12th April 1918.

1918/04/15

Posted to 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Battalion located in the vicinity of Wieltje NE side of the Ypres salient.

1918/05/21

Proceeded on a Course

1918/06/22

Rejoined Battalion

1918/08/21

20 Course at 10 Corps Signal School

1918/09/17

Taken ill/injured whilst on the course (12 Sep 1918) sent to No 20 General Hospital

1918/09/24

Moved to No 30 General Hospital, Calais

1918/09/26

Moved to No 39 General Hospital, Rouen

1918/11/17

Released from No 39 General Hospital, Rouen

1918/11/25

Rejoined Battalion from hospital

1918/11/29

Leave to the UK 29 Nov 1918 – 13 Dec 1918

1919/03/03

Authorised to wear the rank of Lieutenant wef 28 Feb 1919 pending official authorisation

1919/10/09

Authority to proceed to the UK for demobilisation – embarked 26th September 1919.

1919/10/11

Demobilised