Coldstream advice

[Hambo]

I have been pushing to add some missing names to the war memorial at Lancing College which I am happy to say is now approved and a mason has been found to do the work in time for the centenary. I am obviously striving to get the wording exactly right so that it all matches with the names that are already there.

All is fine except one which is a Coldstream Guard. CWGC has his rank as Private but something at the back of my mind thinks he should more correctly be a Guardsman.

Would someone be able to put my mind at rest as we only have one shot at this and then its done so I really want to get it right

Thanks John

[squirrel]

Guardsman was unofficial - the regiment may have used it but Guardsman, Fusilier, Rifleman, Kings man etc were only officially sanctioned post war.

[Doctord84]

Pretty sure you are right about it being Guardsman rather than private; I've asked a mate of mine (who actually served in the Coldstream Guards), to confirm. For what it's worth see

http://www.alanharding.com/Military/ranks/armytraditions.html which says the same (don't know what his source is though).

[Doctord84]

My contact suggests that the current rank insignia for Guards NCO's goes back to Queen Victoria and the designation "Guardsman" remains current. Even the mascots have ranks apparently (and be demoted for misbehaving on parade!)

[squirrel]

Guardsman is current but only officially after WW1as are the other titles for Private soldiers. In WW1 the lowest rank was Private for all Infantry battalions including Guards.

That is why CWGC list casualties from Foot Guards Regiments as Privates.

[Coldstreamer]

who is he ?

[Hambo]

Thanks very much for the contributions. I've just realised I have the Coldstreams history and every ranker in it is listed as a Private so Private it is. As you can imagine, I wanted to get it right as once it's there it's on for good and I owe it to him to get it right as he was left off in the first place.

Many thanks again John

[Coldstreamer]

clearly much confusion when the change occurred - I have 2 rolls for the LSGC in 1918

if we take 7269 Everitt on the roll at RHQ he is a Gdsman and the roll at PRO he is Pte (even in 1919 roll shows rank of Pte still)

[squirrel]

Proves the point. Regiment would have used Guardsman - Official documentation such as the roll at PRO used Private.