Why 12 stripes on a sleeve.

[Fatherofthree]

Greetings.

Having a trawl through eBay and came across [COLOR="Red"]this[/COLOR

He's certainly seen a fair amount of service, as indicated by his row of medal ribbons, and appears to be somewhat older than your "normal" Boer War/WW1veteran.

Please can anybody enlighten me as to why he wears 12 stripes?

Are they all wound stripes; overseas chevrons; similar or something completely different.

Regards
Brian

[LONGSHANKS]

I think they are good conduct stripes. From the look of age on this chap, well earned.

Simon.

[grey_green_acorn]

Is he a Northumberland Fusilier? If so a detailed explanation is sure to be available from a Forum member!

No, I think he is a Royal Inniskilling Fusilier - shoulder titles are a grenade over a curved title.

Tim

[LONGSHANKS]

Here you go Brian.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=37714

[grenadierguardsman]

And i thought i was a flyer.

[Fatherofthree]

Thanks for the replies.

Simon, thanks for the link, I'd completely forgotten about Good Conduct stripes, however, on the premise put forward by Dean, in your link, i.e. 1 stripe for 2 years; 2 for 6 and 3 for 12, this young feller must have fought in The Napoleonic Wars.

Since posting this thread, I have tried to do a little research on GC stripes and found that they were awarded for 2; 6; 12; 18; 23 and 28 years, (unblemished) service........and to a maximum of 6 stripes.

If by chance he is RM Artillery, (a possibility with the cap badge), but others better informed will correct that no doubt, research shows a maximum of 3 GC stripes can be awarded.

So where does this leave us with this old warrior?

Regards

Brian

Originally Posted by Fatherofthree

...So where does this leave us with this old warrior?

Beatification?

[Fatherofthree]

Originally Posted by Peter J

Beatification?

..........2 steps from Sainthood........or a latter day Walter Mitty.

But that, I very much doubt, I've no doubt he earned them.

Further research shows that once attaining the rank of Corporal, a soldier would have to take down his GC stripes. This feller is still a L/Corporal.

Obviously preferred the pay increment for each stripe awarded rather than the pay of a Corporal.

Regards
Brian

[grey_green_acorn]

See post#3 - He looks to be a Royal Inniskilling Fusilier!

Tim

[Fatherofthree]

Tim.

Many thanks for the identification.

Regards
Brian

[Mike_2817]

1 chevron = 2 years
2 chevrons = 6 years
3 chevrons = 12 years
4 chevrons = 18 years
5 chevrons = 23 years
6 chevrons = 28 years
Bearing in mind you could join at 15 - 28 years makes you 43
and apparently it could go as high as 10 chevrons for 50 years = 65 years old?

as to 12 well ??

[Rockape]

Just to add a light-hearted spin to it: He was never caught fighting in the town after his company night out. He probably started the fight then left before the RP's arrived!

Gaz

[grumpy]

The implication is that twelve badges meant 56 years good conduct. The old boy has to be 70 at least. His badges paid no extra.

This from my article in MHS Bulletin:

In 1903 there was a major and unpopular change in the way soldiers were rewarded and paid. Various AOs of that year removed the association of extra pay with good conduct [GC], and also for most skill-at-arms badges. Thus the next warrant, of 1906, continued to call the GC badge ‘a high distinction’ for those under the rank of corporal or equivalent, but removed the 1d per day per badge from all except non-Europeans. The periods for Europeans were 2, 5 (a change), 12, 18, 23 and 28 years, with a proviso for earlier qualification by two years each for the 18, 23, 28 badges. The loss of pay was not uniformly bad news, as ‘Service Pay’ found a way of rewarding longer service at the same time. Within a few years, Proficiency Pay replaced Service Pay except for those with reserved rights, but monetary rewards for good conduct were not renewed, and were retained only by non-Europeans.
After the Great War, the army warrant (much amended piecemeal in the interim) was republished in 1922 with one interesting addition, that further badges above six could be earned for each additional five years service. The consideration of good conduct during Reserve service for those rejoining the colours was restored. Only non-Europeans continued to receive monetary reward.

Oh! and the RM used army rules for GCBadges, not the RN rules.

[matti467]

On the subject of longevity of service; was not one of the VC winners from Rorke's Drift still in service as late as 1914?
Matti

[Graham Stewart]

Originally Posted by grumpy

The implication is that twelve badges meant 56 years good conduct. The old boy has to be 70 at least. His badges paid no extra.

This from my article in MHS Bulletin:

In 1903 there was a major and unpopular change in the way soldiers were rewarded and paid. Various AOs of that year removed the association of extra pay with good conduct [GC], and also for most skill-at-arms badges. Thus the next warrant, of 1906, continued to call the GC badge ‘a high distinction’ for those under the rank of corporal or equivalent, but removed the 1d per day per badge from all except non-Europeans. The periods for Europeans were 2, 5 (a change), 12, 18, 23 and 28 years, with a proviso for earlier qualification by two years each for the 18, 23, 28 badges. The loss of pay was not uniformly bad news, as ‘Service Pay’ found a way of rewarding longer service at the same time. Within a few years, Proficiency Pay replaced Service Pay except for those with reserved rights, but monetary rewards for good conduct were not renewed, and were retained only by non-Europeans.
After the Great War, the army warrant (much amended piecemeal in the interim) was republished in 1922 with one interesting addition, that further badges above six could be earned for each additional five years service. The consideration of good conduct during Reserve service for those rejoining the colours was restored. Only non-Europeans continued to receive monetary reward.

Oh! and the RM used army rules for GCBadges, not the RN rules.

Grumpy - quick question - if he was to continue in service, by transfering to the Militia and then Special Reserve, would he still be able to clock up the mileage to acquire the additional badges? Some of the Militia records I've been looking at, do show individuals transferring directly in to the Militia on completion of Regular service and the award of GC Pay.

On top of which he's definately a 'Skin' not NF or RDF