Lieutenant (later Staff Captain) Lancelot Ballan : Manchester Regiment & RE.

[PhilipG]

This officer was commissioned in the Manchesters on the 18th October 1915, but into which battalion I have been unable to establish.  He served in France.   In the 1911 Census he gives his occupation as Clerk - NE Railway Coy.   At the end of hostilities, the records indicate that his contact address was through the Chief Goods Manager of the North Eastern Railway Coy. at York, later to become the LNER.

No doubt his railway connections resulted in his transfer to the Royal Engineers in which he is recorded as serving in the Directorate of Docks RE.    His services to the war effort during the Second World War have been recognised by the award to him of the OBE in 1944.

I note that he later became the District Superintendent for the LNER working in the Hull region.   Quite an impressive military and civilian career.   PhilipG.

[timberman]

Philip

Had a look on Ancestry and Find my Past
and no reference to a military career?

Found him on the 1901 and 1911 census
but that is all.
Someone else may have better luck

Timberman

[kingo]

The Manchester Evening News of the 28th October 1915 has under the heading; "Appointments and Promotions" To the infantry service Battalions. L.Ballan, but not which Battalion. (Update) In another LG entry it states "T Res Battalion. Could it mean one of the Reserve Battalions 25th, 26th, 27th Battalions maybe ?.

[PhilipG]

Timberman & kingo,

Thank you for your help. Ballan must have impressed the Army and indeed, the LNER.   Regards, Philip.

[charlie]

T Res Battalion could be Territorial Reserve Bn indicating a 2nd or 3rd line TF Bn.

[timberman]

The following may account for not finding anything on Ancestry

New types of reserve created during the war

Class T Reserve was introduced in October 1916 by Army Order 355 of 1916. There was no Territorial equivalent. Class T consisted of men in about 30 specific skilled trades (almost all industrial/munitions related) who would otherwise have been transferred to Class W. Terms and conditions were as for Class W.


Class W Reserve and its Territorial Force equivalent Class W(T) were introduced in June 1916 by Army Order 203/16. They were 'for all those soldiers whose services are deemed to be more valuable to the country in civil rather than military employment'. Men in these classes were to receive no emoluments from army funds and were not to wear uniform. They were liable at any time to be recalled to the colours. From the time a man was transferred to Class W, until being recalled to the Colours, he was not subject to military discipline.

Timberman

[PhilipG]

Timberman,

I found your post most useful.   I think I may have found a Manchesters' officer in a similar vein of expertise to that of Lt. Ballan.   PhilipG.

[PhilipG]

Timberman,

Re the above.  I have come across :-

Captain Sam Thorp.  Commissioned into the Manchester Regiment (battalion not known) on 6th December 1915.  Served in France.  "Seconded" to the Royal Engineers.

The word "seconded" suggests to me that, like Ballan, he had some expertise and competence in a civilian capacity which would be welcomed in the RE, such qualities resulting in his secondment.   It would be interesting to learn what those accomplishments would be.  Any suggestions?  PhilipG.