British officer commission documents
 

I have two of these and always thought them an interesting slice of old fashioned army traditions. I don't know what the modern versions look like but the two I have are both from the reign of George VI.

One I have had for a while is for an officer of the RWF. It came unframed and has a notice of his regiment on the reverse.

From the gazette,

notice of his commission

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/3967

R.W. Fus.
The undermentioned Cadets to be 2nd Lts., 3rd
June 1945"- — •
14430973 Thomas David LEWIS (352305).

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/.../3854/data.pdf

ARMY CADET FORCE.

Cornwall.
ILt. Thomas David LEWIS (352305) (R.W.F. Emerg.
•Commn.) to be Lt., llth May 1953.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/.../9082/data.pdf

The following officers are awarded the Cadet Forces
Medal:

COMBINED CADET FORCE

Cornwall
Lt. (A/Lt.-Col.) T. D. LEWIS (352305) (County
Cadet Commandant).

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...pplement/10078

GENERAL LIST
TERRITORIAL ARMY
SECTION BII
ARMY CADET FORCE

Cornwall
Lt. T. D. LEWIS (352305) to resign his commn.,
13th Sept. 1966, and to be granted the hon. rank
of Lt.-Col.

The second is to Stanley John Dark and came in its original frame so I cannot access the reverse but from a google search I found his obituary notice in the Oxford University Gazette listing his as Lt. Colonel died 6th April 2008 army cadet at Keeble college in 1945 aged 80.

From the London Gazette I found further entries for him and he was promoted from Captain to Major in the RASC in December 1961,and notice of his retirement on full pay January 1979 as a Lt. Colonel.

Jerry,

I also have a number of Kings Liverpool Commissions in my collection, the most interesting ( to me ) is to Ewan Pritchard of the 1st Cadet Battalion, I also have a victorian example to the Volunteer force, one to a Liverpool Scottish casualty and another to an officer in the 5th Kings ( also have his Honorable Discharge Certificate ).

I have been after a Warrant Officers warrant to The Kings for a long time but have never come across one.

( Sorry the pictures are so poor , the framed Commissions are behind glass and close to a window, but not in direct sunlight )

Peter

Peter,

Thanks for commenting and sharing your interesting examples. I'll certainly be keeping my eyes open for some more examples

I have a few of these in my collection including some Victorian ones. They make a useful starting point for researching an individual. However, the regiment that the officer is commissioned into is often not the one that he served with.

I found S J Dark's notice in the Gazette for his commission into the RASC in 1947 as a 2nd Lt from a cadet and again in 49 and he seems to have served with them throughout his career, whilst Lewis started with the RWF but later served with the Cadet Force.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/2175

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/5829

And his notice of promotion to Lt from 2nd Lt in 1948

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/1595

This is the oldest commission document in my collection. dated 10th March 1846, Colonel Joseph Harris Esquire, East India Company. The ink is somewhat faded but still readable.

Wow, that is an early example, thanks for showing it.

After the demise of the 'East India Company' in 1874 did not transfers & new commissions into the 'Indian Army' have the same meaning? i.e. In effect in India only, and not 'Regular Army' in India?