On January 29th, 1912 John joined the Territorial Army, namely the 6th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders - The Renfrewshire Battalion. He signed on for 4 years committing to a maximum of 15 days training per year. The paperwork shows John's age clearly as 17yrs and 1 month (line 4. in the paperwork below)
However, just 25 days later John was discharged from the Territorials. And on his paperwork, the reason given is "Discharged in consequence of Joining Regular Army"
John had applied to joint the 2nd Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders :
It is worth noting in line 13 of his paperwork that John has recorded the fact that he applied to the R.A.M.C. but had been rejected as "not suitable".
Of more importance though, note that in only 25 days John had aged one full calendar year and is now listed as 18yrs and 2 months.
The famous 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (the “Thin Red Line” of Balaclava) was his chosen Regiment. At that time the regiment had two Regular Battalions (1st and 2nd), two Militia Battalions (3rd and 4th) and five Territorial Battalions (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th each of which split into 1st, 2nd and 3rd-line battalions).
The 2nd ASH were, at this point based in Maryhill Barracks.
However, just 25 days later John was discharged from the Territorials. And on his paperwork, the reason given is "Discharged in consequence of Joining Regular Army"
John had applied to joint the 2nd Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders :
It is worth noting in line 13 of his paperwork that John has recorded the fact that he applied to the R.A.M.C. but had been rejected as "not suitable".
The famous 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (the “Thin Red Line” of Balaclava) was his chosen Regiment. At that time the regiment had two Regular Battalions (1st and 2nd), two Militia Battalions (3rd and 4th) and five Territorial Battalions (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th each of which split into 1st, 2nd and 3rd-line battalions).
 |
| Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Recruitment Card |
 |
| 2nd Battalion A&SH battle honours |
He was
allocated a Regimental Number of 905. Prior to 1920 each Regiment allocated their
own service numbers – it was therefore possible for two soldiers in different
regiments to have identical service numbers. ( Unique service numbers across
the British Army did not come in until mid 1920). In 1908 the Argyll & Sutherland
Highlanders “reset” their numbering system and regimental history shows the
allocation of numbers from then until the outbreak of World War One as follows:
Regimental Number
|
Date that Regimental Number is allocated
|
2
|
16-Jun-1908
|
254
|
15-Feb-1909
|
613
|
30-Aug-1910
|
826
|
28-Sep-1911
|
962
|
08-May-1912
|
1116
|
02-Jan-1913
|
1311
|
08-Jan-1914
|
1727
|
12-Aug-1914
|
John, on February 19th 1912 was now a Private in the 2nd Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders aged 17yrs and 2 months old.
You have to admire his enthusiasm and drive to join up.
 |
| John Minnery circa 1914 (perhaps earlier) 2nd A&SH |
The 2nd ASH were, at this point based in Maryhill Barracks.
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