Quote:
Originally Posted by fairlie63
Interesting to note however that King's Regulations and Orders for the Army, 1908, refers only to these appointments as Armourer Staff Sergeant and Armament Staff Sergeant, as does Clothing Regulations 1914. The latter does not show any badge other than crown and three chevrons for both appointments, but does state that all WOs, NCOs and privates employed as armourers wore hammer and pincers.
What did the Armament prefix entail - artillery as opposed to small arms?
Keith
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The titles of the appointments had changed by 1908, Keith. The Armament Staff Sergeants had I think moved to the Army Ordnance Corps by that date, they had previously been Royal Artillery (and worn both gun and crossed hammer and pincers if I recall correctly), before which they had been in a corps of their own, before which originating in the Artillery! It's a convoluted pedigree that you can check online. The British Army always had a battle of ideas as to whether specialists should be an integral part of the units they support or part of a specialised corps and then attached to those they support. There are arguments in favour of both schools of thought but over time the latter has gained preference and held sway.