Awarded a Chevron

[Guest billysiv]

My wifes Grandfather William Thomas Grice BZ 10571 was awarded a Chevron

for an action off the Belgian coast in 1919. Can someone please advise me

what this means.

Bill

[PhilB]

Promoted Lance Corporal? Or one up from whatever rank he was. Phil B

(Chevron = stripe)

[RNCVR]

A War Service chevron perhaps?

On RN Service records it says: "awarded chevrons for 1915-16-17 etc" with the dates. These are referring to the award of War Service chevrons.

Bryan

[PhilB]

True, Bryan, but he wouldn`t be awarded a long service chevron for an action? Phil B

[RNCVR]

Phil,

This man was an RNVR rating. The BZ prefix means he was entered from the Bristol, Birmingham & Leicester Division prior to 4 Sept 1914.

So to be awarded his first GCB (Good Conduct badge, which are the Naval equivalent of Army Long Service chevrons) he would need a minimum of three yrs service.

The rank of Lance Corporal would not exist in the RNVR - he would perhaps have been an Able Seaman - but the only way to know this is to obtain his SR from the PRO.

I still think this chevron Wm Grice was awarded was a War Service chevron.

Bryan

[RNCVR]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the PM - his SR would be in ADM 337/1-108 series (RNVR Ratings Service Records) at the PRO.

Apparently they are arranged by Division & then by Divisional Service numbers, so you need his ON (which you have) to locate his record.

Bryan