Shire was assigned an independent dormitory, although the area was small, only 7 square meters, and the furnishings were very simple, just a bed, a table and chair, and a small bookshelf. But this was already the treatment for a colonel, as those below the rank of colonel had to share rooms, sometimes two or even four people in one room, with four beds arranged in bunks in a small room.
Shire became a lieutenant, a rank given to officers upon graduation from military school, even though Shire had never attended military school.
Gallieni had said, "This guy invented the tank and the sidecar motorcycle, and they indeed played a significant role on the battlefield. It's not too much to make him a colonel!"
He then added, "If anyone can come up with useful inventions like him, I would also give them a rank!"
No one objected, so Shire received a full set of equipment a lieutenant should have:
Two sets of military uniforms for change, with a gold stripe on the cuffs.
