Gymnastic Instructor RA

[fairlie63]

I was intrigued on receipt of this photograph to see crossed swords and crown of a Gymnastic Instructor being worn on the chevrons by these two First Class Staff Serjeants of the RA.

Army Circulars of 1 September 1868, Clause 95, authorise crossed swords for all Gymnastics Instructors and Sergeant Instructors above their chevrons. A sergeant in this photograph also has crossed swords on his chevrons.

What was the significance of the crown?

The photo must date to the very early 1880s as collar badges are being worn, dating it to no earlier than 1880, but chevrons are still being worn points downwards by the staff-serjeants, the sergeants still have crowns above their gun and rank is being worn on both sleeves, such distinctions being abolished in Clothing Regulations 1881.

Interesting photograph, perhaps staff at RMA Woolwich.

Keith

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by fairlie63

I was intrigued on receipt of this photograph to see crossed swords and crown of a Gymnastic Instructor being worn on the chevrons by these two First Class Staff Serjeants of the RA.

Army Circulars of 1 September 1868, Clause 95, authorise crossed swords for all Gymnastics Instructors and Sergeant Instructors above their chevrons. A sergeant in this photograph also has crossed swords on his chevrons.

What was the significance of the crown?

The photo must date to the very early 1880s as collar badges are being worn, dating it to no earlier than 1880, but chevrons are still being worn points downwards by the staff-serjeants, the sergeants still have crowns above their gun and rank is being worn on both sleeves, such distinctions being abolished in Clothing Regulations 1881.

Interesting photograph, perhaps staff at RMA Woolwich.

Keith

A very significant photo I agree Keith. His rank is still in accordance with the RA Dress Regulations published in 1864 and either Brigade Sergeant Major or Brigade Quarter-Master-Sergeant, who each wore four point-down chevrons surmounted by RA gun and crown above on both lower sleeves.

The superimposition of special qualification badges onto the chevrons was common to mark out individuals like trumpeters, farriers and collar makers, because of the ubiquitous gun arm badge, so in general it isn’t unusual to see a badge positioned in that way. However, in this case it’s an unusual badge that like you I’ve not seen on an RA SNCO before. In this case it’s the crossed Mameluke sword and conjoined crown over in gold bullion wire that was mentioned in General Order 26 of 1869 and intended for the best swordsman in a cavalry regiment (less lancers in theory).

The same badge was also used by staff of the Gymnasium School at Aldershot (as both cap and arm badge). Qualified assistant [regimental] instructors in the units wore crossed swords without crown. Given the status of the SM and QMS and that an artillery brigade was the equivalent of a cavalry regiment then it seems likely to me that this RA staff sergeant (pre warrant officer) was his brigade’s best swordsman. As 1868 and 1869 post date the 1864 regulations then it explains why the badge does not appear in that publication. By that logic the crossed swords alone, which were defined as for best swordsman of a cavalry troop, seem likely in your photo to be for best swordsman in a battery (or horse artillery troop).

The badge itself did receive further definition in the ground breaking clothing regulations of 1881, where it is one of several badges described for swordsmanship in the line cavalry, and the artillery is not mentioned. Presumably that’s why it hasn’t been seen on RA WO/SNCO subsequently. Your image is a real snapshot in time and must be exceedingly rare. I’m sure that forum member 54Bty will be interested to see it, but I do not know how to draw his attention.

I suspect that the photo was taken at the “Grand Depot” at Woolwich. The parade ground there was surrounded by gun trophies and these guns became favoured venues for a great many official photos.

[mike_vee]

Not sure if this will be of interest :

FROM THE NAVAL AND MILITARY GAZETTE - 22 JULY 1865:

PRIZES FOR SWORD PROFICIENCY IN THE CAVALRY REGIMENTS

1st Prize.— A badge of cross swords and crown, worked in gold, entitling the wearer to additional pay at the rate of 2d. per day [2 pennies], to the best swordsman of each Regiment, in which all the troops have competed during the year.

2nd Prize.— A badge of crossed swords, worked in gold, and entitling the wearer to additional pay at the rate of 1d. per day [1 penny] to the best swordsman of each troop in which at least 30 men shall be qualified to compete.

3rd Prize.— A badge of crossed swords, worked in worsted, and entitling the wearer to additional pay at the rate of 1d. per day [1 penny], to the next best swordsman in each troop in the proportion of six per cent., or one man for every 16 competing.

.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

Not sure if this will be of interest :

FROM THE NAVAL AND MILITARY GAZETTE - 22 JULY 1865:




.

That change in terminology from best swordsman to 1st Prize in regiment apparently occurred by order in 1898 Mike, so well afterwards.

Reference is publication on skill at arms and trade badges by Edwards and Langley.

[fairlie63]

Hello Toby,

Thank you for that interesting explanation, while I had seen the GO (thanks Mike) relating to the best swordsman, etc, I had not associated the badge with the RA in that respect.

I've attached the complete photo, not particularly good because it was taken on my phone (new scanner is not compatible with the older Windows system on my desktop). It shows quite a few second class staff-sergeants, sergeants, and trumpeters.

At the right rear is another individual, not artillery, that I must photograph more closely because he is wearing a strange badge on his shako (?) and I have no idea what it is.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by fairlie63

Hello Toby,

Thank you for that interesting explanation, while I had seen the GO (thanks Mike) relating to the best swordsman, etc, I had not associated the badge with the RA in that respect.

I've attached the complete photo, not particularly good because it was taken on my phone (new scanner is not compatible with the older Windows system on my desktop). It shows quite a few second class staff-sergeants, sergeants, and trumpeters.

At the right rear is another individual, not artillery, that I must photograph more closely because he is wearing a strange badge on his shako (?) and I have no idea what it is.

It’s a cracking photo and as you say shows a mix of sergeants and first and second class staff sergeants. The background looks like a typical guardroom verandah but it’s impossible to be sure. The fellow left rear as we look is not RA, as you have rightly pointed out, and is not wearing a shako but a ‘round forage cap’ as was termed the pattern worn between around 1860 and 1880 and distinguished by a horizontal squared off peak. The approximate shape of the badge looks to me like Queen Victoria’s large crowned cypher, which was worn by staff sergeants appointed to the Garrison Staff. These are appointments like garrison quarter-master-sergeant, garrison sergeant major, and headquarters pay, and staff clerks of the 1860s and 1870s. The enclosed picture shows a garrison sergeant major and you can see his forage cap on the table. The shoulder title was also a woven VR cypher and crown.

[fairlie63]

Thanks for clarifying that fellow's headgear Toby. This is a close up of the individual under discussion.

Under magnification the badge itself looks like crossed swords or muskets superimposed over a hollow circle with possibly a crown above. I will have to trawl K&K to see if I can find it.

When I originally saw the photograph I thought the crossed swords and crown on the chevrons of the SM or QMS on the left were actually crossed guns and that this was staff of the School of Gunnery. The SM and QMS of this establishment were permitted to wear the AIG badge on their chevrons by Army Circ 744 of 10 March 1862 although I note there is no mention of this distinction in RA SO 1864.

Cheers, Keith

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by fairlie63

Thanks for clarifying that fellow's headgear Toby. This is a close up of the individual under discussion.

Under magnification the badge itself looks like crossed swords or muskets superimposed over a hollow circle with possibly a crown above. I will have to trawl K&K to see if I can find it.

When I originally saw the photograph I thought the crossed swords and crown on the chevrons of the SM or QMS on the left were actually crossed guns and that this was staff of the School of Gunnery. The SM and QMS of this establishment were permitted to wear the AIG badge on their chevrons by Army Circ 744 of 10 March 1862 although I note there is no mention of this distinction in RA SO 1864.

Cheers, Keith

Thank you for the better view Keith. It’s definitely the type of round forage cap I was describing and worn only by officers and headquarters (NCO) staff. The badge is of large dimensions and of a type formed from cursive script letters often surmounted by a crown. A large VR was the most typical, but there were others. One badge used was that of staff clerks, see enclosed. The RA never used that type of cap, utilising the pill box cap with gold lace band as it’s direct equivalent. DRs refer. There were certainly gunnery staff as you say, but they did not wear that cap. One possibility is Army Pay Department specialist staff NCOs, of which there were a few similar to the staff clerks.

[fairlie63]

Thanks Toby,

I couldn't find the cap badge in K&K but no matter, got the photo and another from the same period because they showed the early forms of staff sergeants' distinctions for artillery.

Finding the crossed swords on chevrons, the sergeant standing centrally also has crossed swords but no crown on his, as does the man sitting on the gun above the staff-sergeant second from right, was a bit of a bonus. Unfortunately more questions than it answered but....

Cheers, Keith

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by fairlie63

Thanks Toby,

I couldn't find the cap badge in K&K but no matter, got the photo and another from the same period because they showed the early forms of staff sergeants' distinctions for artillery.

Finding the crossed swords on chevrons, the sergeant standing centrally also has crossed swords but no crown on his, as does the man sitting on the gun above the staff-sergeant second from right, was a bit of a bonus. Unfortunately more questions than it answered but....

Cheers, Keith

I’m content that the crossed swords relates to swordsmanship during that early period, a man of first class staff status would not be involved in gymnasia. At that stage (1880) very few barracks contained a gymnasium. The omnipresence of equine stock and stable routine also led to a much closer relationship between the artillery and the cavalry than with other arms such as the infantry.

Few of the badges I have described for such as garrison staff, etc. appear in Kipling and King, Keith. It’s taken me over half a century of study to pin the details down. At best it’s the kind of thing covered in obscure articles of bulletins from institutions like the British Military Historical Society. Much information has been gleaned from family photos posted on the internet, something that post dates the limited research opportunities of Messrs King and Kipling.