Lt Hubert Cavell - 11th Btn Notts and Derby

[gurkharifles]

I'm trying to find out more about the early career of Lt Hubert John Cavell - I know he was a Bristol boy - and joined the 11/Notts and Derby Regt in Jan 1916 ( when he was 33) I think he joined as a Lt - becoming Adj when he was wounded in France in April 1917 - dying of his wounds on the 22 April - he's buried in Easton-in-Gordano. I really want to know whether he'd have been in some sort of OTC first and why he would have joined a Nottinghamshire Battalion when he'd lived all his life in Bristol?

[Alan O]

He was too old to be in an OTC. Depending on what school he went to they may have had a Cadet Corps.

By 1916 officers went to where there were spaces. He does not seem to have been pre war TF so had no link to his local TF regiment.

[gurkharifles]

I believe he went to Bristol Cathedral School- he became an architect - so how did he become an officer? I’m assuming he had some sort of military service before 1916?

[Alan O]

I doubt he did. By 1916 officer entry was not determined by previous service. He went to a war raised battalion which would have needed officers and the fact he had a good education would have made him suitable. Bristol Cathedral School was/is a good school for the educated classes. School OTCs did not start until 1908 so it would not have been possible for him to get his Class A qualification for officer service whilst at school.

Lots of officers did not have previous military service in WW1 but had the 'right' background and education to get wartime commissions.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by gurkharifles

I'm trying to find out more about the early career of Lt Hubert John Cavell - I know he was a Bristol boy - and joined the 11/Notts and Derby Regt in Jan 1916 ( when he was 33) I think he joined as a Lt - becoming Adj when he was wounded in France in April 1917 - dying of his wounds on the 22 April - he's buried in Easton-in-Gordano. I really want to know whether he'd have been in some sort of OTC first and why he would have joined a Nottinghamshire Battalion when he'd lived all his life in Bristol?

From THE LONDON GAZETTE, 11 JANUARY, 1916.

The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshwe and Derbyshire Regiment).
Hubert John Cavell to be temporary Second Lieutenant (on probation).
Dated 8th January, 1916.

24 April 1917 :

Temp. 2nd Lt. H. J. Cavell to be temp. Lt. 20 Feb. 1917.

.

[gurkharifles]

Thanks Alan - any idea where he would have trained to become an officer?

[manchesters]

In one of these OCU's

Officer Cadet Units
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.
OTB Number Location
1 Newton Ferrers
2 Pembroke College, Cambridge
3 Bristol
4 Oxford
5 Trinity College, Cambridge
6 Balliol College, Oxford
7 Moore Park, Kilworth, County Cork, Ireland
8 Lichfield
9 Gailes, Ayrshire
10 Gailes, Ayrshire
11 Pirbright
12 Newmarket
13 Newmarket
14 Berkhamstead
15 Romford
16 Kinmel, Rhyl
17 Kinmel, Rhyl
18 Bath
19 Pirbright
20 Crookham, Aldershot
21 Twezeldown Camp, Fleet
23 (Machine Gun Corps) Bisley. Moved to Catterick early 1918
24 (Tank Corps) Hazeley Down, Winchester
Household Brigade Bushey
1 Cavalry Netheravon
Garrison Jesus College, Cambridge
Royal Engineers Signals Newark

From the Long Long Trail

[gurkharifles]

Simon - thank you so much for this - I would assume that this is the route he would have gone through and most likely through the Bristol unit. Would they have been issued with a service number and kept it on appointment?

[manchesters]

He could have gone to any OCU, not necessarily one near to his home.

Officers didnt have service numbers then.

best wishes

[gurkharifles]

Simon - thank you so much for this - I would assume that this is the route he would have gone through and most likely through the Bristol unit. Would they have been issued with a service number and kept it on appointment?

[manchesters]

He could have gone to any OCU, not necessarily one near to his home.

Officers didnt have service numbers then.

best wishes

[gurkharifles]

Thanks Simon - I've downloaded the War Diaries of the 11th and have found a detailed report on the "Enemy Attack on Centre Battalion of the Hill 60 sub-sector on the night of April 9th 1917" - it actually mentions the moment Lt Cavell was wounded - "Hearing rifle following the intense shelling the Adjutant, Lt Cavell was told to send up the SOS. He was wounded as soon as he left the entrance and this delayed the SOS" - He had been promoted to Lieut. 6 days before.

[manchesters]

Great stuff