DEMOTED OFFICERS IN THE RANKS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 14, 12 October 1943, Page 6

DEMOTED OFFICERS IN THE RANKS

Some Now Under Former Subordinates HUMILIATING POSITION (By Bayonet.) It would appear that the lot of the demoted officers in the ranks , has not been without a certain amount ot humiliation which they might well have been spared. Civilians and soldiers alike are wondering if it was really in the interests of good order and military discipline that a number ot these officers, demoted to private, should have been given the task of peeling potatoes and acting as mess orderlies at a vvel.known camp near Auckland. Indeed, it has yet to be explained how these officers came to be reduced to the ran a ot .private in view of the fact that the Minister of Defence stated they were to hold the rank of sergeant. The question of rank for demoted officers is further complicated by the fact that N.0.0.’s going overseas w some eases have been permitted to retain their rank of sergeant or higher. In other cases they have been derated to the rank of private or corporal. it would appear to be a matter of caprice whether a demoted officer finds himself under his own sergeant or not. It is only fair to add that most demoted officers gain rapid promotion to serfor the fact that all the demoted officers have taken their .somewhat abrupt descent in a philosophic manner, some of the very junior officers now in charge of them might have found themselves in a very awkward position. In fact, in some cases comparatively recently-commissioned one pippers were actually passed through their O.C.T.U. by demoted captains of considerable ability and experience, whose rifles these one-pippers are now inspecting. But for considerable understanding on both sides situations very much to the prejudice of good order and military discipline might well arise It is the considered opinion of many serving officers that every step should have been- taken to avoid placing demoted officers in humiliating position* as regards erstwhile subordinates. -n fact, the subordinate, possibly through no fault of his own, did not join the \rniy till conscription came into force. The demoted officers in nearly every case not only enlisted voluntarily early in the war but have now voluntarily committed military hari-kari in the interests of their country. A furthei point is . that many of these demoted officers' had previously made numer-ous-applications to be sent overseas, but their application did not get beyond their own hendQUtirters. Trial and Ordeal. Disciples of some religious faiths have to go through a period of trial and ordeal. Some of the demoted officers are wondering if this has been specially included in their curriculum. If not, they ask. was it really necessary for artillery officers of experience and ability to be drafted as privates to the infantry. When they had descended to that rank they were told that as they had been artillery officers and knew little about infantry work they were not fit to be N.C.O. s. let in con trust engineer officers and ordnance officers and officers from other branches were demoted to gunners in the artillery. Nearly all of the infantryized artillery officers have .contrived by hook and by crook to worm their way back to the branch of their choice. They were, however, a little dismayed to find that on arrival fhey were junior to demoted officers from other -branches who knew nothing about artillery methods. As a final ordeal they were all fallen in and informed by the sergeant-major that their ranks must not be considered permanent. n hen they arrived overseas they would all revert to private. It takes an able ano experienced soldier to stand up to this form of third degree One cannot but feel that the demoted officers will give a resolute account of themselves on the battlefields of the Allied nations when the time comes. Anyway, one would have liked to think that these demotees were -busy training ■for the -battles to come. This, perhaps, offers the greatest test of all. Actually it would seem that these'officers in their .new rank of sergeant, etc., are far too 'busy on fatigues to spare time for 'training. Their day is spent largely in humping ammunition at a nearby dump, working on the wharves, and tossing mailbags around at the G.P.O. A few, it must be added, did manage to get to useful courses, specially the artillery personnel. However, due to the fact that nearly all the artillery officers were ,'marched in to infantry units a large -number arrived back in the artillery fold Itoo late to be included. Actually, most !of these officers have specialized training "which could be used for training purposes ■ right away. ' It seems strange, therefore, ; that instructors in gunnery who passed out top in their gunnery courses should now be demoted to carting mailbags' around and acting in the capacity of amateur wharf labourers. Not Punishment. During their period of demotion these officers are further bewildered by the rumours that certain brother officers at Army Headquarters and elsewhere, owing to some mystical juggling with their age, ■have already gone overseas in their commissioned rank. Moreover, rumours about O.C.T.U.’s arranged and actually taking place, to supply officers for overseas from personnel of much less military standing 'than the demoted officers, has made some of them wonder if it is all a dream. Maybe someone will wake up with a snap and suitable action will be taken to see that demoted officers receive the treatment that their previous service merits. It should be made public that it is not a punishment but an honour to receive the voluntary permission to demote. It would appear that in some cases fond aunts and best girls have imagined that their adored must have committed some terrible military misdemeanour to have been reduced to the ranks without trial.