Intelligence Corps & 10th Royal Fusiliers?

[ubervamp]

Hi guys

Stumbled across this:

"The outbreak of the Great War saw the formation for the first time of an Intelligence Corps as such, and its first unit went to France with the original British Expeditionary Force in August 1914. The unit consisted of about fifty men, most of whom were teachers, journalists, professors and language scholars, recruited for their special knowledge. By 1916 these intelligence officers wore the green tabs and cap bands of specialists attached to the General Staff"

and:

"ORs in the 'Intelligence Police' were neatly hidden in the 10th R Fusiliers (Intelligence Corps)"

OK, multiple questions for those in the know:

1) what the hey???? Is this kosher info???
2) Is the Intelligence Corps the same as "intelligence Police"?
3) I thought the 10th were the "Stockbrokers"?
4) What badge would the Intelligence Corps have worn in 1914, then?
5) what the hey????

Hope someone can enlighten me, as I find this quite fascinating

Colin

[Mike Jackson]

Read all about it here - under World War One
Mike

http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/gen...ps_history.pdf

[ubervamp]

Thnx Mike

I still don't get the link to 10th RF, though:

"Initially there were no other Ranks except soldier servants’ or officers’
batemen who were enlisted in 10th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, Intelligence (B).

So was the 10 actually a "intelligence battalion", then, or were the recruits "hidden" in their numbers?

And what's the relation between "Field Security Police", "Intelligence Police" and "Intelligence Corps"?

Colin

[Mike Jackson]

Take a look at the post 1203 hrs 27 Aug 03 here:

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/fo...showtopic=4397

[ubervamp]

Wow.This is a piece of Great War history i knew nothing about.
Amazing.

So there were, if I'm reading this correctly, in effect two (2) 10th RF battalions?
1 front line, and 1 (B) battalion?

And most, except the odd one, were badged to the RF?
For covert reasons, and convenience, from what I gather.

[ubervamp]

Someone should write a novel against this backdrop (Ken Follett?)

I'm still not sure how good a cover RF insignia would provide, though.

Keep getting visions of an undercover agent donning a RF cap badge walking up to a bloke, notebook in hand:
"I'd like to ask you a few questions about the dead Uhlan up the road there"
"Yes?"
"Where were you at approx. 0900 hours yesterday?"
"well, me and my unit were getting blasted at a hamlet just over there"
"Can anyone verify that?"
"No, I'm the only survivor"
"Hmm...how convenient for you...
Oh well then, I'm off back to my regular battalion of the regular RF's, cause I'm a regular soldier, you see"

lol

[Postwarden]

This photo shows a Royal Fusilier WO wearing an Intelligence Corps armlet who may well be a member of the 10th Bn.

Jon

[intcorpsmedals]

Hi Jon, anymore information on the photograph of the Royal Fusilier CSM with IC armband? Any details on the back of the image? Regards, Mark

[leigh kitchen]

10th Bn RF wore small brass numerals "10" on the right lapel of SD.

[leigh kitchen]

A RF man in a photo of a small mixed group of four RF, two RWK Regt, a Welsh Regt, an Army Cyclist Corps man & three "not knowns".
He appears to be wearing a"10" on his lapel, the only man in the group who is.
On the back of the card is "Oct 6th. 18. West Camp Tipperary, Ireland".