Royal Army Educational Corps
Encyclopedia
The Royal Army Educational Corps (RAEC) was a corps
of the British Army
tasked with educating and instructing personnel in a diverse range of skills. On 6 April 1992 it became the Educational and Training Services Branch
(ETS) of the Adjutant General's Corps
.
s and senior non-commissioned officer
s, as well as a few commissioned officers who served as inspectors and headmasters.
In 1859 its duties were extended from simple schooling within the Army to assume responsibility for the Army schools and libraries and in 1903 the Army schoolmasters fell under the jurisdiction of the Adjutant-General. By the early 1900s, soldiers began to be admitted to evening classes, and some garrisons opened vocational classes. In 1914, a committee was set up for the "industrial training of soldiers", underlining the Army's intent to properly equip soldiers for civilian life. This committee recommended that soldiers should be struck off duty during their last three months of service, in order to allow them to attend vocational training.
, the British Army was circulated in and out of the front line, reserve line, and rest areas. This allowed education to continue, albeit in a disrupted fashion. Even whilst in the trenches, boredom meant the soldiery desired news and information, and in accordance, a staff officer would organise lectures to satisfy these needs. The issue of resettlement was also raised by the war, and so a scheme was established to prepare men for civilian life.
established the Army Educational Corps on 15 June 1920. The wartime task of its members was to "assist by all means in their power the maintenance of a high spirit of devotion and well being in their units". Peacetime duties were more clearly defined, and AEC personnel were expected to do specialise and advisory work, the bulk of the teaching which was to be done by regimental officers.
landings. Recruits saw training time double, with education being conducted in hospitals, prisons and displaced persons camps.
The end of the war saw the Corps involved in the daunting task or returning a national Army to civilian occupation. Unit Education Officers gave pre-release advice whilst the Corps organised an extensive network of "formation colleges".
From 1962 it was staffed exclusively by commissioned officers and the non-commissioned personnel were either commissioned or left the Army.
In 1971, the education of soldiers was radically changed. Recruits joining the Army were generally poorly qualified and although the tasks of soldiering were easily mastered, the additional responsibilities involved in being an NCO proved more difficult. The new system introduced the Education Promotion Certificate
. This was designed to specifically meet the training needs of potential Sergeant
s and Warrant Officer
s.
In 1992 the RAEC lost its Corps status and became the Educational and Training Services Branch of the new Adjutant General's Corps.
The last two functions were handed over to civilian agencies after the Second World War.
. Subsequently they were based at Trenchard Lines (the former RAF Upavon
), Pewsey
, Wiltshire
.
Aspirant National Service Sergeant Instructors underwent training at the Army School of Education, situated at the end of the Second World War at Buchanan Castle
, Drymen
in Scotland, and later, from 1948, at the Walker Lines, Bodmin
in Cornwall
.
at Aldershot
to train Army Schoolmasters. Before this they had been trained at the Duke of York's Military School and many of the recruits had started as pupil teachers at the three military schools. Many personnel were former front-line soldiers who had decided to take more sedentary jobs in the later years of their service. Two AEC officers, Archie Cecil Thomas White
and James Lennox Dawson
, had won the Victoria Cross
in the First World War.
By 1938, AEC recruits were required to be between 20 and 25 years of age. They had to be either qualified teachers or university graduates. They initially enlisted for twelve years and were immediately promoted Sergeant
. During the Second World War many university lecturers joined the AEC. After the Second World War, National Service men with degrees or good secondary school educations were accepted for service in the RAEC, and trained at the Army School of Education, before being posted to units as sergeant instructors.
:Category:Royal Army Educational Corps soldiers
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
tasked with educating and instructing personnel in a diverse range of skills. On 6 April 1992 it became the Educational and Training Services Branch
Educational and Training Services Branch
The Educational and Training Services form part of the Adjutant General's Corps and have done since 1992 when this Corps of the British Army was formed...
(ETS) of the Adjutant General's Corps
Adjutant General's Corps
The Adjutant General's Corps is a corps in the British Army responsible for many of its general administrative services. As of 2002, the AGC had a staff of 7,000 people...
.
1846–1914
On 2 July 1845 the Corps of Army Schoolmasters was formed, staffed by warrant officerWarrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
s and senior non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s, as well as a few commissioned officers who served as inspectors and headmasters.
In 1859 its duties were extended from simple schooling within the Army to assume responsibility for the Army schools and libraries and in 1903 the Army schoolmasters fell under the jurisdiction of the Adjutant-General. By the early 1900s, soldiers began to be admitted to evening classes, and some garrisons opened vocational classes. In 1914, a committee was set up for the "industrial training of soldiers", underlining the Army's intent to properly equip soldiers for civilian life. This committee recommended that soldiers should be struck off duty during their last three months of service, in order to allow them to attend vocational training.
First World War
Despite the strains of the First World War on the British Army, education of soldiers did not stop. Unlike the German ArmyGerman Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
, the British Army was circulated in and out of the front line, reserve line, and rest areas. This allowed education to continue, albeit in a disrupted fashion. Even whilst in the trenches, boredom meant the soldiery desired news and information, and in accordance, a staff officer would organise lectures to satisfy these needs. The issue of resettlement was also raised by the war, and so a scheme was established to prepare men for civilian life.
1920–1939
A Royal WarrantRoyal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
established the Army Educational Corps on 15 June 1920. The wartime task of its members was to "assist by all means in their power the maintenance of a high spirit of devotion and well being in their units". Peacetime duties were more clearly defined, and AEC personnel were expected to do specialise and advisory work, the bulk of the teaching which was to be done by regimental officers.
Second World War
The Second World War saw the normal work of the corps radically change. The need for both physically and mentally competent troops resulted in an increased workload for the Army Education Centres. The AEC began to operate in a variety of different theatres and locations throughout the war, including the unexpected task of sending news-sheet teams with the D-DayD-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
landings. Recruits saw training time double, with education being conducted in hospitals, prisons and displaced persons camps.
The end of the war saw the Corps involved in the daunting task or returning a national Army to civilian occupation. Unit Education Officers gave pre-release advice whilst the Corps organised an extensive network of "formation colleges".
1946–1992
On 28 November 1946 the AEC was honoured with the title of "Royal". In Britain this honour must be bestowed directly by the monarch, and allows the relevant service or organisation the right to use a representation of the crown in their badge. King George VI contributed to the design of the new badge. After the war the RAEC continued its work educating soldiers and helping them to resettle into civilian life.From 1962 it was staffed exclusively by commissioned officers and the non-commissioned personnel were either commissioned or left the Army.
In 1971, the education of soldiers was radically changed. Recruits joining the Army were generally poorly qualified and although the tasks of soldiering were easily mastered, the additional responsibilities involved in being an NCO proved more difficult. The new system introduced the Education Promotion Certificate
Education Promotion Certificate
The Education Promotion Certificate was established in 1971 by the Royal Army Educational Corps. This occurred in response to a drastic re-organisation of the RAEC to meet the generally poorly qualified level of new recruits entering the British Army...
. This was designed to specifically meet the training needs of potential Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
s and Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
s.
In 1992 the RAEC lost its Corps status and became the Educational and Training Services Branch of the new Adjutant General's Corps.
Functions
The RAEC and its predecessors had four main functions:- To carry out educational training of troops
- To act as instructors in trade schools for boy entrants
- To act as masters in the Duke of York's Royal Military SchoolDuke of York's Royal Military SchoolThe Duke of York’s Royal Military School, more commonly called the Duke of York’s, is a co-educational Academy with military traditions in Dover, Kent, open to pupils whose parents are serving or have served in any branch of the United Kingdom armed forces for a minimum of 4 years...
, the Queen Victoria SchoolQueen Victoria SchoolQueen Victoria School was opened on 28 September 1908 by His Majesty King Edward VII, and is Scotland's Ministry of Defence school for the sons and daughters of Scottish soldiers, sailors and airmen...
, and the Royal Hibernian Military SchoolRoyal Hibernian Military SchoolThe Royal Hibernian Military School was founded in Dublin, Ireland, to educate orphaned children of members of the British armed forces in Ireland.-General:... - To teach the children of soldiers in garrisonGarrisonGarrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
schools
The last two functions were handed over to civilian agencies after the Second World War.
Headquarters
From 1944 to 1992 the RAEC was headquartered at Eltham PalaceEltham Palace
Eltham Palace is a large house in Eltham, within the London Borough of Greenwich, South East London, England. It is an unoccupied royal residence and owned by the Crown Estate. In 1995 its management was handed over to English Heritage which restored the building in 1999 and opened it to the public...
. Subsequently they were based at Trenchard Lines (the former RAF Upavon
RAF Upavon
The former Royal Air Force Station Upavon, more commonly known as RAF Upavon, was a grass airfield, military flight training school, and administrative headquarters of the Royal Air Force....
), Pewsey
Pewsey
Pewsey is a large village, often considered a small town, at the centre of the Vale of Pewsey in Wiltshire about west of London. It is well connected to London, the West Country and Wales being close to the M4 motorway and the A303. Also, the village is served by Pewsey railway station on the...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
Aspirant National Service Sergeant Instructors underwent training at the Army School of Education, situated at the end of the Second World War at Buchanan Castle
Buchanan Castle
Buchanan Castle is a large house in Stirlingshire, Scotland, and serves today as the seat of the Clan Graham.Located west of the village of Drymen, the house was built by the 4th Duke of Montrose in 1854. The original structure, the ancestral seat of the Clan Buchanan, had burned down in 1852, and...
, Drymen
Drymen
Drymen is a village in Stirling district in central Scotland. Drymen lies to the west of the Campsie Fells and enjoys views to Dumgoyne on the east and to Loch Lomond on the west...
in Scotland, and later, from 1948, at the Walker Lines, Bodmin
Bodmin
Bodmin is a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the centre of the county southwest of Bodmin Moor.The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
Personnel
In 1910, the Army opened its own Normal SchoolNormal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
to train Army Schoolmasters. Before this they had been trained at the Duke of York's Military School and many of the recruits had started as pupil teachers at the three military schools. Many personnel were former front-line soldiers who had decided to take more sedentary jobs in the later years of their service. Two AEC officers, Archie Cecil Thomas White
Archie Cecil Thomas White
Colonel Archie Cecil Thomas White VC MC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
and James Lennox Dawson
James Lennox Dawson
Colonel James Lennox Dawson VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, had won the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
in the First World War.
By 1938, AEC recruits were required to be between 20 and 25 years of age. They had to be either qualified teachers or university graduates. They initially enlisted for twelve years and were immediately promoted Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. During the Second World War many university lecturers joined the AEC. After the Second World War, National Service men with degrees or good secondary school educations were accepted for service in the RAEC, and trained at the Army School of Education, before being posted to units as sergeant instructors.
Notable personnel
:Category:Royal Army Educational Corps officers:Category:Royal Army Educational Corps soldiers