Question on guards rank

[dee222]

I have just got a guards combat shirt (mtp) it has the troopers name and rank inside which is lance sgt what would this be in rest of the army also is it a life guards rank ? .

[manchesters]

Hello,

L/Sgt in guards Regiments = Corporal, as they dont use the word "Corporal".

In the HC its just the opposite they dont use the rank Sergeant.

Confusing isnt it!

regards

[Alan O]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance_sergeant

Yours is a Guards shirt and not HCR.

[grey_green_acorn]

Lance Corporals in the Guards wear two stripes.

Tim

[oc14]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

Lance Corporals in the Guards wear two stripes.

Tim

And Lance Sergeants wear three chevrons to add to the confusion !
PL

[Martin J Wright]

Originally Posted by oc14

And Lance Sergeants wear three chevrons to add to the confusion !
PL

Also Regimental Corporal Major.

[johnG]

I have never known if the story was true, but long long ago I was told Lance Corporals in the foot guards wear two stripes as a result of an unscheduled visit made by Queen Victoria to a Guards establishment when all the full Corporals were away on a course. A one stripe Lance Corporal was on duty in place of a two striper, and he was told to put up an extra stripe for the day.

Her Majesty got to hear of the deception and said the man should keep the two stripes, and what's more, all Lance Corporals would wear two stripes from then on.

Probably quite untrue.

[David Tremain]

I've read that story too but I can't remember exactly where.

David

[johnG]

David,
The now defunct Cadet Battalion and the likewise Infantry Battalion of the HAC, in keeping with their similarity to the badges and ranks of the Grenadier Guards, also followed the practice of two stripes for a Lance Corporal. I served in both of those units and was told the story as being the origin of the custom by my Company Sergeant Major (who had previously served in the Grenadier Guards before joining the HAC) when I first attained the dizzy heights of L/Cpl in the Cadet Battalion back in 1948, so perhaps it is true.

Cheers,

John

[oc14]

Originally Posted by Martin J Wright

Also Regimental Corporal Major.

As I understand it, the Regimental Corporal Major (RCM) was the equivalent of an RSM so would wear the Royal Arms WO1 rank badge. Although Lance Corporal of Horse, Corporal of Horse and Staff Corporal would wear chevrons (and crowns), Squadron Corporal Major and Regimental Quartermaster Corporal Major would wear Warrant Officer Class 2 rank badges
PL

[spreadeagle]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

Lance Corporals in the Guards wear two stripes.

Tim

Lance Corporals in the QDG's also wore 2 chevrons.
Corporals and above wore a S/P arm badge above the rank chevrons on N02's .
There was no way of differentiating between L/Cpls and full Cpls whilst in denims on the Tank Park,as we all wore leather wrist straps with 2 brass chevrons.
The Brassard shown was introduced in 1983-84 with a cloth NCO's badge above the 2 chevrons to denote the rank of Corporal.
I'm not sure how long after it continued as that was the end of my time of service.

Alan

[jf42]

Originally Posted by johnG

I have never known if the story was true, but long long ago I was told Lance Corporals in the foot guards wear two stripes as a result of an unscheduled visit made by Queen Victoria to a Guards establishment when all the full Corporals were away on a course. A one stripe Lance Corporal was on duty in place of a two striper, and he was told to put up an extra stripe for the day.

Her Majesty got to hear of the deception and said the man should keep the two stripes, and what's more, all Lance Corporals would wear two stripes from then on.

Probably quite untrue.

To be honest, the notion of Queen Victoria making an unscheduled visit anywhere doesn't seem likely (especially after Prince Albert died in 1861), nor would the Sovereign be likely to concern herself much with the presence of any corporal - authentic or not. That sounds like one of those sergeant's tales that don't stand up to scrutiny; did corporals go off on courses in the 1850s - let alone a whole battalion's worth?

Here is an alternative view from a thread on the Victorian Wars Forum:

"Originally all infantry battalions, including Foot Guards, had an allocation of Lance Sergeant positions to fill established Sergeants' vacancies. Unlike today they actually filled full Sergeants positions and carried out their function in every respect...

They were in effect probationary positions until such time as a vacancy for a substantive sergeants position was available."

"Lance Sergeants were discontinued in Oct 1946 at the same time as the Cardwell System was abandoned and all line regiments reduced to a single battalion. It seems likely that the two were connected as there were a lot of supernumerary Sgts to employ following the reductions.

The Guards opted to retain theirs, but converted it from a probationary appointment to a substantive rank, as it suited their obligations for public duties that at that time still included all the London palaces, Windsor castle, and the Bank of England Picquet in Threadneedle Street."

Not as much fun, I know.

It's also worth bearing in mind that all Guards officers counted as one rank senior to their colleagues in the rest of the army.

Full discussion here.

http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtop...ce+sergeant%27