Promotions on medal cards

[DavidOwen]

Do Medal Cards as we can obtain them from the National Archives show ALL promotions in service or only those during the conflict?

 

Asking because my grandfather's card only shows him as a Private but he always said he had been promoted to Sergeant during his service and we have evidence in the form of a postcard sent via forces post to him in France from a friend serving in Egypt which addresses him as L/Cpl (Lance Corporal).

[ss002d6252]

32 minutes ago, DavidOwen said:

Do Medal Cards as we can obtain them from the National Archives show ALL promotions in service or only those during the conflict?

 

Asking because my grandfather's card only shows him as a Private but he always said he had been promoted to Sergeant during his service and we have evidence in the form of a postcard sent via forces post to him in France from a friend serving in Egypt which addresses him as L/Cpl (Lance Corporal).

The medal index cards shows the rank which was to go on the medal - this wasn't always the highest rank held and depended on which particular medal you are talking about as what rank would be shown.

At the time of WW1 lance corporal wasn't a rank, it was an appointment given to a private. The substantive rank was still private but he was given more pay and responsibilities under his appointment to lance corporal.

Craig

Edited 31 January , 2018 by ss002d6252

[Ron Clifton]

The rank shown on the medal card, and marked with an X and four dots, was the rank to go on the medal, and was the highest rank achieved during the war. David's grandfather may have been promoted to Sergeant after the end of hostilities, or he may have acted in a role normally filled by a sergeant.

 

It is also common to see a different rank on one of the Stars, or on a gallantry medal, from those on the BWM and Victory Medal.

 

My grandfather's medals showed him a a Private in the York and Lancaster Regiment, the unit he was with when he first went abroad, although he was later transferred to the Royal Engineers. Had he been promoted to, say, corporal while with the RE, that rank would be on the medal, even though he had never held it while in the Y&L.

 

Ron

Edited 31 January , 2018 by Ron Clifton

[DavidOwen]

Thanks Guys, all useful information - didn't know about the Lance Corporal bit.

[Coldstreamer]

Sometimes the rank on the medal roll differs as well to the mic

[Lawryleslie]

On 31/01/2018 at 17:02, ss002d6252 said:

The medal index cards shows the rank which was to go on the medal - this wasn't always the highest rank held and depended on which particular medal you are talking about as what rank would be shown.

At the time of WW1 lance corporal wasn't a rank, it was an appointment given to a private. The substantive rank was still private but he was given more pay and responsibilities under his appointment to lance corporal.

Craig

Hello Craig

ive always understood that the cross and four dots signified which Regiment would be impressed on his medals. Of course this would also include the rank he held at that time.

Lawry

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Lawry

 

The regiment impressed on the medals was that with which the man first went to an overseas theatre of operations, this being the point at which the qualification arose, and was normally the first unit on the card. The actual roll was compiled by the regiment or corps with which the man last served.

 

Ron