Identification of a letter on a medal

[Fatherofthree]

Greetings all.

Not insignia I realise, but a letter that needs identification please.

On a TFEM medal to an Essex Regiment chap: C. Sjt. A.S.Q.M. Sjt.

C. Sjt is of course Colour Sergeant and A QM Sjt is Acting Quartermaster Sergeant, but what is the S between A and Q?

many thanks.

Brian

[Fatherofthree]

Greetings again.

Having just discovered that the S is for Squadron, I'm wondering if anybody can assist with this position in an Infantry Regiment, because I'm not aware that Infantry Regiments consisted of Squadrons.

It is definitely an Essex Regiment and not Essex Yeomanry Medal, to a Sergeant in the 4th battalion.

Regards.

Brian

[mm1]

Hi Brian,

A/S Q M Sjt. is also a WW1 abbreviation for Australian forces(Acting Squadron Quarter Master). Don't know if that fits. Can you give me the name on the medal and I will do a bit of digging ?

Mark

[Fatherofthree]

Greetings Mark.

Having done a bit more digging, I now believe the S is for Staff, however, I still don't see how that fits into things.

Medal is to: 204216 C Sjt A.S.Q.M Sjt H LUCAS 4 Essex R.

Nothing on Ancestry, as far as I can see to show his original number, my limited knowledge and skills on The NAM site pointed me to S for Staff.

Many thanks.

Regards.

Brian

[mike_vee]

The original auction listing doesn't help.

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (204216 C. Sjt: - A.S.Q. Sjt: - H. Lucas. 4/Essex R.)

National Archives :

Colour Serjeant / Acting Staff Quarter Master Serjeant

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D6374351

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[mike_vee]

Only other detail is from Medal Card :

Date of Army Order : 1-2-20

The T.F.E medal was established in 1908 and :

was awarded to non-commissioned officers and men for a minimum of 12 years service in the Territorial Force, providing they attended 12 annual training camps.Previous service in other part-time forces including the Volunteer Force could count,while war service counted double.

Could it have depended on which 4th Battalion he served with ?

1/4th Battalion - Main unit , served overseas.

2/4th Battalion - Formed at Brentford in October 1914 as a second line unit.
Disbanded in December 1915.

3/4th ( 3/5th, 3/6th and 3/7th) Battalion - Formed at home bases in May 1915. Moved to Windsor Great Park in August 1915 and went on to Halton Park in the October.
8 April 1916 : became 4th to 7th Reserve Bns.
1 September 1916 : 4th Reserve Bn absorbed all the others.
By August 1917 had moved to Crowborough and went on in August 1918 to Hastings.

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[mike_vee]

Found a site showing British Army rates of pay 1914 and interestingly only three branches list Staff Quarter Master Sergeant :

Army Service Corps

Army Ordnance Corps

Army Pay Corps


https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/sold...ates-pay-1914/

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[mm1]

Proving illusive - found his TFEM card, but only medal index card I could find is for a henry Lucas essex regiment but his number was 16266

Mark

[leigh kitchen]

Would "School" fit? A Colour or Staff sergeant filling the Warrant Officers position?

[Hawthorn]

As his rank is Colour Sergeant the A.S.Q.M. Sjt must refer to his Appointment within the Unit, I wonder if it relates to some form of Musketry Instructor position as in the more common Q.M.S.I, Quarter Master Sergeant Instructor of Musketry? That said, I can't make the letters fit!

Simon.

[Fatherofthree]

Greetings.

Many thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

A possibility that I overlooked, but I doubt is the answer, is that the engraver made a mistake and etched an S instead of a C, which would fit in with him being the Acting Company QMS.

I'll persevere with more research.

Regards.

Brian

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Fatherofthree

A possibility that I overlooked, but I doubt is the answer, is that the engraver made a mistake and etched an S instead of a C, which would fit in with him being the Acting Company QMS.

The medal card clearly shows an S , the abbreviation used on medal cards for Squadron QMS was SQ. Q.M. SJT.

.

[Holyboy]

I’d make an informed guesstimate that it’s a mistake not uncommon

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by mm1

Proving illusive - found his TFEM card, but only medal index card I could find is for a henry Lucas essex regiment but his number was 16266

Mark

Private Henry Lucas 16266 > Liverpool Regiment 325036


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