Saff Sgt CEF - What was their role

[Adam_Jones]

Hi there,

Relatively new to the forum and have already had some excellent info in the 'Units & Formations' section with reguard to my Great Grandad George Jones who was in the 31st Alberta battalion CEF. I have ordered his Service file from the Canadian National Archives and have already seen his attestation paper. I recently discovered that he was a Staff Sargent.....and i wanted to know what exactly was the role of a Staff Sargent in WW1??......ive been able to find some discriptions of this role online but they tend to refer to Staff Sargents in WW2 and after. Any info about the role of a Staff Sargent in WW1 would be greatly appreciated:-)

cheers,

Adam

[Piorun]

A Staff Sergeant, of which there were many variations (eg. CQMS, Colour Sergeant) depending on regiment and duties, is a paid regimental Non-Commissioned Officer as opposed to a battalion or company NCO. His role during WW1 would be much the same as after. Generally a more experienced and accomplished man than the body of sergeants, he would have had a broader range of personnel and administrative duties and would likely have a number of sergeants reporting to him. The rank was not so much superior to Sergeant (although it was) but of broader responsibility. Antony

[Adam_Jones]

thanks for the info, very interesting. so i wonder if he had more responsibilities and was deemed more experienced due to his age (stated as 31 on his attestion paper....although i think he was actually 30) and because of his 5 years service in the 2nd Derbys and 4th Notts (some time between 1902-1911)

[Piorun]

Probably, Adam. Although the mills of Army don't always grind true, they generally do remove most of the rubbish. Your man would likely have been welcomed for that previous experience. The Canucks were a formidable lot. Antony