Page "Batman (military)" Paragraph 20

The official term used by the British Army in the First World War was Soldier-Servant.

Every officer was assigned a servant, usually chosen by himself from among his men.

The term batman replaced this in the inter-war years.

By the Second World War, only senior officers of the Army and Royal Air Force were officially assigned their own batmen, with junior officers usually having the services of one batman between several officers.

Batwomen also served in the women's services.