Officers' Servants

[Tony Smith]

The Australian Infantry kept the practice of Batmen attached to Officers during ther Vietnam War and it was still in use in the Reserves (TA to some) in the early '80s, however, like Richard said, it was rather hit and miss when used and was not a permanent appointment where the Batman would spend years with the officer to become "Jeeves" when the Officer was pensioned off! It was more common to see the practice on field excercises when the batman would attend to setting up the Hootchie, dugout and tucker while the Officer organised the unit and admin tasks. It was a good system with payoffs for all involved. Is the system still in use? Dunno, could be. I haven't actually heard that it has been abolished.