Wayne Barnatt Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 Hi everyone, just found this forum and wish to ask for some information. I have some documents reqarding my great grandfather who was in the royal marine artillery , i know he was aged 38 in 1917 and a Gunner but i also have a written note which indicates a Brigade Major which doesnt seem right to me. I have a picture which has 3 chevrons on the sleeve. Can anyone confirm his rank . His name is William Edawrd Parish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 (edited) Three chevrons on the upper arm refers to a sergeant. Three chevrons on the lower arm and inverted was a provost sergeant. Several batteries (2 or 3) of guns deployed on land would be referred to as a brigade. A brigade might have a sergeant major, who was the most senior other rank (below officer) within it. Can you post the photo? You can copy it with your phone if you do not have a scanner. Edited 1 August , 2020 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 (edited) William PARISH RMA/6816 (RFR/B/981) held the rank of Gunner RMA throughout his service. His Kew ADM 159 record is here (free download) - https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7757418 There are more papers in ADM 157 but these cannot be downloaded - https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14895907 Having served his 12 -year engagement (1897-1909) he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve and was mobilised for WW1. In 1914 he served in France and Belgium with the RMA Battalion and qualified for the 1914 Star. From May 1917 he served as a gunner in defensively armed merchant ships (DAMS) on the books of HMS PRESIDENT III. "Brigade Major" is a mystery. Can you post the written note or quote it in full, please? Context is important. The three chevrons are Good Conduct Badges, since he was never a sergeant of any description. Edited 1 August , 2020 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTSCF Fareham Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 Found a few bits that might be of interest on Forces War Records. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Barnatt Posted 1 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 1 August , 2020 Thanks for the information, picture attatched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 As horatio2 said, he’s wearing three good conduct badges (stripes) on his left lower sleeve. In his chest pocket is a pocket watch with the fob hanging out. He is a gunner (equivalent of a private). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Barnatt Posted 1 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 1 August , 2020 Thanks, i have a marriage certificate and written the reverse is as per picture, not sure who wrote this . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 I think it means entered on the record and countersigned by the Brigade Major as proof. Date stamped beneath by the paymaster. These are all routine administrative proceedings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Barnatt Posted 1 August , 2020 Author Share Posted 1 August , 2020 Great, thanks to you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTSCF Fareham Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 Gave your photo a bit of a tweak! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 An obscure document signed by the Brigade Major of (probably) the RMA Barracks at Eastney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 3 minutes ago, Wayne Barnatt said: Great, thanks to you all. Recording his marriage certificate was important as it gave him certain entitlements. As horatio2 says RMA Eastney was probably the location as the administrative procedures for the RMA were centred there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 1 August , 2020 Share Posted 1 August , 2020 (edited) The signature is almost certainly that of Major Richard Vernon Tredinnick FORD RMA, who was Brigade major on that date. A high-flying officer - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ford_(Royal_Marines_officer) Edited 2 August , 2020 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Barnatt Posted 30 October , 2021 Author Share Posted 30 October , 2021 Following on from the above for which I am greatfull in respect of medals I see from his service record that mentioned under medals it looks like to me written in as date issued July 18, 15 Yr medal. Is this the royal Fleet reserve long service and good conduct medal. Many thanks if anyone can confirm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 30 October , 2021 Share Posted 30 October , 2021 (edited) He qualified for the naval Long Service and Good Conduct medal after 15 years VG service from age 18. In this case 12 years continuous service engagement to 1909, followed by his wartime service after mobilisation in 1914. The MEDALS column shows that he received the LS&GC Medal on 2 July 1918, although he actually qualified in about September 1917, when he was probably serving at sea in DAMS. N.B. the RFR LS&GC Medal did not exist at this time. Edited 30 October , 2021 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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