Quote:
Originally Posted by Toby Purcell
There were (and are still) two levels at which a man might be a quarter-master-sergeant, Phillip. The first was at RE company level, wearing three stripes with grenade then crown above on upper arms (which was also worn by the company-sergeant-major until 1915). The second was at superior unit headquarters level, wearing four stripes point up and grenade plus an 8-pointed star above on lower arms. This latter, along with the CSM had their status elevated to warrant officer of the new, second class, in July 1915, at which point their badge changed to a plain crown that had hitherto been the badge of the majority of the original single class warrant officer rank introduced in 1881. The exceptions had been a few in the most discrete roles of all, with highly specialised appointments, who had different badges not relevant to the RE.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P.Jones
Hi Toby,
Once again most informative, my chap was a lieutenant in 1914 so one of the two former:- “wearing three stripes with grenade then crown” or “four stripes point up and grenade plus an 8-pointed star above on lower arm” shame I do not have a photo of him from that time.
Lovely R.E. ERV11 badge you have there. Re:- forth photo, back row third from right: see he also has the “T-bar you see on one breast pocket is a common, utilitarian style of fob for his watch”
I have ordered his world War One documents from Kew (at least I hope they are his) but not apparently arriving until Thursday. So I will wait with posting the last ww1 photo until then, he was stationed in Ireland and Malta at that time.
Once again many thanks for sharing your vast knowledge! Really most enlightening.
Kind regards,
Philip
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I’m glad to help Phillip. If you post his details in the Great War Forum under the “Soldiers and their Units” section you will find some quite excellent genealogical detectives who are very generous with their time. They often belong to various pay sites where they can dig details up and confirm, or otherwise, previous assumptions. It’s something that the forum has almost accidentally evolved with in the preceding 2-years.
NB. Were I a betting man I would guess that your forebear was one of the more senior QMS, as they were commonly elevated during the war to become lieutenants and quartermasters due to their specialised knowledge, which became increasingly in demand as the army expanded during the course of the war.