What was a Major in command of ?

[Andre Chissel]

Dear all,

My understanding is that during the 2nd Anglo Boer War, an Infantry Captain was a Company commander.

Given that a Battalion Commander was a Lieutenant Colonel, what was a Major in command of and how many Majors were there in a typical Infantry Battalion ?

Thanks

Andre

[Frogsmile]

Dear all,

My understanding is that during the 2nd Anglo Boer War, an Infantry Captain was a Company commander.

Given that a Battalion Commander was a Lieutenant Colonel, what was a Major in command of and how many Majors were there in a typical Infantry Battalion ?

Thanks

Andre

Traditionally Majors commanded 'Wings' (half battalions) as and when necessary. Before 1860 this was up to 5 companies (a battalion had 10) and after 1860 4 companies (battalions were reorganized to 8 companies on service and 2 at a home 'depot' after the demise of the two flank companies).

There were usually two majors if I recall correctly, with one acting as the second-in-command and thus known as the 'senior major', although it was not unheard of for there to be as many as three and this increased further over the decades until the late Victorian period. One would need to see establishment tables for precise numbers at a given time. Senior commanding officers could often be employed as impromptu Brigade Commanders and then the senior major would take over command and the battalion could be split into two Wings if required, or fought as a complete battalion.

Battalion structures were designed on a binary principle at that time and every sub-unit could also be divided in two (company, platoon and section), each with a commander. Working on a principles of twos even went down as far as in the ranks, where each man had a partner known as his 'file man', which is the origin of the buddy concept. They generally fought and messed together and also referred to each other as 'oppos'. This latter comes from the 'numbering off' of ranks, where one of each pair of men would be an even number and the other an odd number. This was referred to as my 'opposite number' and thus 'oppo'.

One or more of the battalion's Majors was also sometimes seconded to act as a staff officer in his formation head quarters. The whole structure was designed to be flexible.

[Jonathan]

This is not an area in which I have much experience or knowledge, but looking through the Army List for 1900 one can get a sense of the numbers of any (officer) rank in a given regiment. Looking through the first five infantry regiments there were between 8 and 11 majors per regiment. In each of those regiments, 2 majors are listed as "2nd in command" and the rest are simply majors.

This link may only work in the US, but here is a copy of the Army List for 1900 so you can see for yourself:

http://books.google.com/books?id=amJEAQ ... &q&f=false

[Frogsmile]

This is not an area in which I have much experience or knowledge, but looking through the Army List for 1900 one can get a sense of the numbers of any (officer) rank in a given regiment. Looking through the first five infantry regiments there were between 8 and 11 majors per regiment. In each of those regiments, 2 majors are listed as "2nd in command" and the rest are simply majors.

This link may only work in the US, but here is a copy of the Army List for 1900 so you can see for yourself:

http://books.google.com/books?id=amJEAQ ... &q&f=false

That would seem to make sense Jonathan, as before 1908, 'a Regiment' would generally list its total majors for two regular and, generally, two militia battalions of the line.

I am not positive, but I believe that at that time Volunteer Battalions were shown separately and that would fit with the numbers you quoted.

I could not access your link, but in any case one would need to see a battalion's establishment table (both then and now) to see how many officers at each rank were authorized.

[Jonathan]

Here is a random example--The Cheshire Regiment, 1st & 2nd battalions from the 1900 Army List. The militia and volunteer battalions are listed separately with their own officers.

Cheshire.png (32.38 KiB) Viewed 860 times

[Frogsmile]

Here is a random example--The Cheshire Regiment, 1st & 2nd battalions from the 1900 Army List. The militia and volunteer battalions are listed separately with their own officers.

Cheshire.png

It seems to show a 2IC and 3 other majors for each of the regular battalions.

I know that some forum members have establishment tables for that period, it will be interesting to see what they say.

The command of Wings was as described.

[Andre Chissel]

Wonderful - Thank you - I don't know what else to say - well once condensed down that will be another footnote to add to a page - essentially a Wing Commander - and that was before aircraft made an appearance !

Thank you Gentlemen

Andre

[Frogsmile]

Wonderful - Thank you - I don't know what else to say - well once condensed down that will be another footnote to add to a page - essentially a Wing Commander - and that was before aircraft made an appearance !

Thank you Gentlemen

Andre

Yes, I forgot to mention that. It is indeed the origin of the term 'Wing Commander' and very many aviators, perhaps unsurprisingly, do not realize this.

[Andre Chissel]

Oh !

And I was trying to be a smart alec - trying to crack a funny lol - That will teach me !

Andre

[Frogsmile]

Oh !

And I was trying to be a smart alec - trying to crack a funny lol - That will teach me !

Andre

Ha ha....no worries, the truth can be stranger than fiction, as they say.

The term Wing was at that time a familiar part of the military lexicon and used both tactically and domestically. Such phrases as 'take one Wing', or 'move one Wing' were commonplace in a way that we have perhaps lost sight of. Both in manoeuvres prior to an engagement, and in moving rapidly to out march a cholera outbreak, a battalion was oft required to move by Wings. It could also withdraw from battle in that way, with one Wing standing to provide covering volleys, as the other moved and visa versa.

I've just remembered that I covered this in more detail here: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=5915

[zerostate]

Circa 1893, Home establishment battalions had one Lieutenant Colonel, three Majors, six Captains, eight Lieutenants, four Second Lieutenants, one Adjutant, and one Quarter Master. One of the three listed Majors would be 'mounted' and be the second in command, the other two would command companies. It should be noted that the Adjutant could also be a Major in some circumstances IIRC and the QM could (rarely) be an Honorary Major (i.e., was accorded the respect as if a Major but did not hold any field command).

For the same period, Foreign Service establishment battalions had one mounted Major and three dismounted (as company commanders, with only five captains, a total of sixteen subalterns plus the Adj, QM, and an MO).

I think these officer establishments persisted to the Boer War. I don't have my detailed notes of Boer War establishments or Hart's Annuals to hand to double check for sure though.

Chris

[Jonathan]

Hart's Annual Army List provides a bit more detail regarding officers' assignments and the battalions in which they served. Here is The Cheshire Regiment once again, from the 1899 Hart's List:

Click on the image to enlarge

cheshire 1899 1.PNG (334.47 KiB) Viewed 811 times

cheshire 1899 2.png (5.16 KiB) Viewed 811 times

[Frogsmile]

Circa 1893, Home establishment battalions had one Lieutenant Colonel, three Majors, six Captains, eight Lieutenants, four Second Lieutenants, one Adjutant, and one Quarter Master. One of the three listed Majors would be 'mounted' and be the second in command, the other two would command companies. It should be noted that the Adjutant could also be a Major in some circumstances IIRC and the QM could (rarely) be an Honorary Major (i.e., was accorded the respect as if a Major but did not hold any field command).

For the same period, Foreign Service establishment battalions had one mounted Major and three dismounted (as company commanders, with only five captains, a total of sixteen subalterns plus the Adj, QM, and an MO).

I think these officer establishments persisted to the Boer War. I don't have my detailed notes of Boer War establishments or Hart's Annuals to hand to double check for sure though.

Chris

That is spot on Chris and fits with what I could dimly recall. Most of the company commanders were Captains until WW1 with just a couple of Majors and another as 2IC. With most battalions having officers away on courses, country sports, semi official overseas adventures and long furloughs, the actual arrangements varied and flexibility was omnipresent.

Reading contemporary accounts, senior Lieutenants often stepped up to command companies, and majors to command battalions. It was the way things had to be. One of the reasons that the reorganisation to four companies took place was to ensure a greater pool of available officers to oversee training and day-to-day administration.

It seems that it was rare that the majors actually commanded companies in the field, as if they were not elevated to battalion command to replace an absent colonel, they were usually spirited away to either, act as supernumerary (but deemed essential) 'staff officers' at formation level, or run rear area functions suited to an experienced, but often more portly and less active officer.

[Frogsmile]

Hart's Annual Army List provides a bit more detail regarding officers' assignments and the battalions in which they served. Here is The Cheshire Regiment once again, from the 1899 Hart's List:

Click on the image to enlarge

All good stuff Jonathan and especially interesting to see those holding Brevet Rank, which of course led to a lot of detached officers to carry out other tasks at their higher rank, as well as the large number on ERE (Extra Regimentally Employed) throughout the empire and running such diverse establishments as military prisons and gymnasia.

[Jonathan]

Quite a few officers were attached to volunteer battalions (to their own regiment and others) and seconded for service elsewhere (e.g., WAFF, Egyptian Army, gymnasium superintendents, depot commandants, Army Pay Dept., etc.). These other assignments probably whittled down the pool to meet the establishments and duties which zerostate and FROGSMILE highlighted above.