On 10th February 1943
Dick was attached to the No6 War Office Selection Board*
at Brockham Park, Betchworth, Surrey
Copy of Record from Service & Casualty Form
*War Office Selection Boards were established in 1942 to ensure potential officers were chosen on the basis of merit and more soldiers in the ranks would aspire to a commission. (The Guards, however, did not participate in WOSB selection.)
Boards of psychologists, psychiatrists and military experts presided over the vetting of potential officers over 3 days, bringing a scientific approach to selection. Candidates filled in detailed questionnaires on their civilian and military background, medical history and spare time activities. They took intelligence and personality tests and participated in group tests, involving discussions and outdoor exercises to assess their physical fitness and leadership ability. These included leaderless group tests to assess initiative, co-operation and social skills. A final interview with the military President of the Board was used to confirm officer quality. Assessments were usually held in large country houses. (From ‘The British Army and the People’s War’ by Jeremy A. Crang)
(I understand that the current process for officer selection is not so very different.)
See Dicks’ letter of 25th February 1943 and a personal account of the War Office Selection Board by Duncan Leitch Torrance in People’s War on the BBC website. ('WW2 People's War' is an online archive of wartime memories contributed by members of the public and gathered by the BBC.)
On 13th February 1943
Dick ceased to be attached to the War Office Selection Board
and was posted to Home Details (O.C.T.U. Candidate)
having been approved by No.6 War Office Selection Board
as a candidate suitable for training at an OCTU*.
*O.C.T.U. = Officer Cadet Training Unit
Copy of Record from Service & Casualty Form
43RC/34/1/43 43 Recce
Ceased to be attached to No.6 War Office Selection Board Redhill
Trooper 13.2.43 JGordon
13th February 1943 – the German Army withdraws from Kharkov in north-east Ukraine as the Soviet Army advances.
The RAF bomb Lorient and St Nazaire in their efforts to destroy U-boat bases and shipyards on the French Atlantic Coast.
On 14th February 1943 Colonel A.W. Henman,
President of the No. 6 War Office Selection Board,
approved Dick as a candidate for the Officer Cadet Training Unit
- POTENTIAL OFFICER QUALITY C
(See Applying for OCTU, Recommended for OCTU and War Office Selection Board)
Copy of Record:
RECOMMENDATION FORM FOR CANDIDATES FOR OFFICER CADET TRAINING UNITS
14th February 1943 – Rommel’s Afrika Corps advance on Allied positions in the Atlas Mountains of Tunisia culminating in the Battle of Kasserine Pass on 19th to 25th February (the first major clash between German and US forces of WW2). Initially routed by Rommel’s attacks the Allies eventually halted the advance and the Germans withdrew to the Mareth line. The Americans had lost over 6,000 men. Allied aircraft and ground forces were also lost due to confused orders and ‘friendly fire’. (From ‘The Second World War’ by Antony Beevor, published by Weidenfield and Nicolson 2012)
Rostov-on-Don (north-east of the Black Sea on the Sea of Azov) is recaptured by the Russians having been occupied by the German Army for seven months.
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