Sorry for the open endedness of this question but what might the duties of a 2nd Lieutenant have been? I'm researching a chap who attained this post and served in the 39th Division, 186th Brigade. Any ideas as to how this post fitted in with the rank of command? Would the rank and file Tommy have seen him as one of themselves or as something else? And from the other point of view, how might those granted a temporary commission been viewed by regular officers?
Thanks for any replies.
Paul

A second lieutenant was normally a platoon commander or equivalent in other arms. His command would be from 30 to 50 men, usually in four sections, and he would have a platoon sergeant to assist and advise him. The rank and file would certainly not regard him as "one of them" unless he had actually been commissioned from the ranks but in most such cases he would have been commissioned into a different unit, precisely in order to help him cross what was still a definite divide.

After a suitable "probation" he would be promoted to lieutenant but would still command a platoon etc.

All young officers, in wartime as well as in peacetime, and whether temporary or not, were usually tolerated and accepted by their seniors as long as they showed themselves willing to learn and willing to try. Socially, temporary officers sometimes had a harder job to gain acceptance but barriers in this respect reduced as the war went on, more and more temporary officers having gained both respect and higher rank by their military competence. The older stereotype of the upper-class, Regular officer was still present to a lesser extent, and indeed tried to re-assert itself after 1918, but with little long-term success.

Ron

many thanks Ron.