Uniform for Recruiting Sergeants

[clive_hughes]

In a Welsh autobiography dated 1963, Ifan Gruffydd from Anglesey recorded how he was enlisted in September 1914.

It reads like a step back into the pre-war era, as at a fair in Llangefni he saw a figure dressed in a brass-buttoned scarlet coat with "black ribbons hanging halfway down his back", blue trousers, a "velvet cap" and spurs. Despite local rumour that this was a Colonel, he was in fact a recruiting sergeant named Hennessey, and he drew quite a crowd. He could also speak Welsh, which ensured he got a hearing at least. Before Ifan knew what he was doing, he was seated in the Red Lion and signing a full 6-year attestation form for the RWF Special Reserve.

There was indeed a Sergeant Maurice Hennessey who was a member of the recruiting staff at Llangefni in the early part of the war. Born about 1862 to a Crimean veteran of the 41st Regiment who had settled in Beaumaris, he was ex-RWF (which may account for the "black ribbons") and had served in the Hazara 1891, Crete 1898 and China 1900 conflicts. He was discharged from the Army on health grounds in 1901 after 18 years service, and returned to Beaumaris where his description in the 1911 Census is a shoemaker and Army Pensioner Colour-Sergeant. His son also joined the RWF Regulars in 1912 and died in action in Mesopotamia 1916, earning a DCM. He fades from the record after 1914, and possibly died in the Birkehnead district early in 1935 aged 72.

I don't know if he was used for recruiting before the Great War began, but as a former (as opposed to serving) soldier would he have been able to draw a full-dress uniform from stores in his recruiting capacity? Are there any other instances of recruiters dressing as in pre-war days?

Clive

[tony paley]

He may well have retained his dress uniform, allowing for weight gain, tailored to fit maybe. Pre War regulars would have handed in their walking out dress to the regimental stores during hostilities. But pensioners probably retained their uniform. In view of his role in recruiting he would probably have sought permission from the Regimental Depot to wear his uniform, not unusual I understand.

Tony P

[clive_hughes]

Thank you for that Tony.