Private or Guardsman

[Medic7922]

I have just been sent some images of my Great-uncles grave in France

on the headstone it has him as Guardsman, which is a bit confusing as

I was led to believe that all Guardsman were know as Privates during the

first war, my great-uncle died on the 9th september 1914 and was in the

Coldstream Guards,

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

Guardsman,Rifleman,Gunner,Sapper;Driver,Etc; were all used on CWGC Headstones I believe to describe the various "Alternate " titles for "Private"

[Owen D]

A Guards Private became a GUARDSMAN on 20th November 1918.

So they were named retrospectively on the gravestones.

[Coldstreamer]

Hello

Some are named Pte and some Gdsman - perhaps it depended on when they got buried by the cwgc?

Ian

[John_Hartley]

Of the various KIAs from Stockport that I'm researching, Grenadiers are all listed, by CWGC, as Guardsman, whilst other regiments are Privates.

[Terry Denham]

Some are named Pte and some Gdsman - perhaps it depended on when they got buried by the cwgc?

Just a minor correction.

CWGC did not bury anyone. The army did the burying and they later turned over the cemeteries to the care of CWGC.

[Coldstreamer]

Terry

I thought that as I typed but couldnt think of a way of getting the words from brain to keyboard! If the CWGC had buried them then they too would have hundred of casualties!!

Ian

Just a minor correction.

CWGC did not bury anyone. The army did the burying and they later turned over the cemeteries to the care of CWGC.