Platoon Sergeant Major
Platoon Sergeant
Major (PSM)1 was an appointment in the British Army
introduced in 1938, intended to be filled by a soldier in the rank
of Warrant Officer Class III created at the same time. The rank and
appointment was also created in the Canadian Army after mobilization
in 1939.
History
The Platoon Sergeant Major (PSM), and his mounted counterpart, the
Troop Sergeant Major, was an experiment in having Non-Commissioned
Officers command platoons (or troops in mounted units). The
experiment was deemed unsuccessful, and the majority of PSMs were
commissioned. As the history of one 1st Canadian Infantry Division
battalion notes:
A number of
platoon in the battalion when it came overseas (in Dec 1939)
were commanded by Platoon Sergeant Majors(sic).2
This (appointment) was ultimately dropped, and even at this time
(1940) PSMs were being gradually replaced by lieutenants.3
After 1940, the rank
of Warrant Officer Class III was no longer granted, nor was the
appointment of Platoon Sergeant Major.
Example: The
Calgary Highlanders
Units of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division seem to have phased out
their PSMs at the same time; The Calgary Highlanders did so when the
unit was in Shilo between late May and mid-August 1940. A total of
11 Platoon Sergeants Major were recommended for commissions at that
time, according to Roy Farran's regimental history. He cites the
program of commissioning these NCOs as being successful. Many not
only became platoon and company commanders during the war but went
on to distinguished postwar careers also.
Above, four PSMs of the Calgary Highlanders in 1939. From left to
right: Sam C. Nickle was commissioned into the Canadian Intelligence
Corps and eventually served as Honorary Colonel of The Calgary
Highlanders from 1971-1986. PSM W. Black (fate unknown). PSM Mark
Tennant, who later served as a company commander in The Calgary
Highlanders, and postwar as Commanding Officer and Honorary
Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment. He was later inducted into the
Order of Canada after a successful career in civic politics as an
Alderman of the City of Calgary. At right, PSM Sherwin Robinson, who
later served as a company commander in The Calgary Highlanders in
action and commanded a squadron of The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC)
after the war.
Below, three more of
the Highlanders' PSMs:
J.C.Allen went on to
command a battalion of the PPCLI in Korea and earned the
Distinguished Service Order. PSM R. Gordon sent on to serve as a
Brigade Major in the Militia after the war, went on to be a brigade
major in the Militia. PSM "Donny" Munro was transferred to PPCLI as
a lieutenant in 1943, and served in The Calgary Highlanders after
the war, where he retired as a major.
Notes
-
The archaic
spelling "Platoon Serjeant Major" can also be seen in
contemporary documents.
-
The correct
pluralization of this would of course be Platoon Sergeants
Major.
-
Roy, Reginald.
History of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada 1919-1965
p.106
