Out of interest I enclose another photo of the exact same scene. It seems that there must have been a press photographer or correspondent present at the RAP or CCS that day who took a series of photographs.
The shield shaped felt arm patch can be seen more clearly in this alternative view and it’s also clear that the Grenadier Guard is a Corporal, rather than Sergeant. At that time there was an Acting Corporal and Corporal in the Foot Guards, with the former being the equivalent of Lance Corporal in the remainder of the infantry. Both wore 2-stripes, but I’m suspecting from this photo that the Corporals had a gilding metal grenade above their rank, as a differential from the Acting Corporal, which would have made clear their superior status. It would be good to see further images that might corroborate that theory.
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