War Diaries Talk

skeleton Garrsion

  • erik.schaubroeckscarlet.be by erik.schaubroeckscarlet.be

    Does this mean that the they constitute the main part of the garrison?

    Posted

  • marie.eklidvirginmedia.com by marie.eklidvirginmedia.com

    A Skeleton Battalion was another name for a Cadre - about a 100 trained and experienced officers and OR which could form the organisational basis of a new unit. They would carry out skeleton exercises with each man representing a larger unit.

    Link: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?/topic/219178-skeleton-order-royal-field-artillery/

    Posted

  • cyngast by cyngast moderator

    A skeleton garrison is a small amount of men, usually the smallest possible number to man a position. In general, the term skeleton when combined with garrison or crew means a minimum number of personnel. For example, a hospital might operate with a skeleton crew overnight or on a holiday, when only the minimum number of essential personnel are there and all the clerks, etc. have gone home.

    In this case, the skeleton garrison were probably thinly spread out along the Blue Line, with more space between men than if the entire company had been in that line.

    Marie's reference above refers to a cadre which took part in war exercises in the UK where the members of the skeleton battalion were used to represent a larger full-strength battalion.

    Posted