Hi All I had a good search of the abbreviations already on the forum and throughout the Internet and, obviously, I must be looking in the wrong place... In my dad's records (ww2, 2nd bn Scots Guards) it has on the promotion column: 1941 - 1942 AUL Sgt APL Sgt AU Sgt AP Sgt & WSR Sgt I wondered if the 'A' stood for 'Acting' and the 'W' stood for 'warrant' If anyone could let me know what the initials stand for, I would very much appreciate it. Thanks in advance
Hi, Being Guards I think the L would be Lance (Lance Sgt etc) The P would be Paid and the U Unpaid eg AUL Sgt acting unpaid lance Sgt.
AUL Acting unpaid Lance Sergeant APL Acting Paid Lance Sergeant AU Acting unpaid Sergeant AP Acting Paid Sergeant WS War Substansive Sergeants' of the Scots Guards are referred to as 'Full Sergeants' Other Guards regiments Gold or Pay Sergeants. 2nd Bn now in suspended animation as a supplementary company F Coy (public duties London) 2SG Regimental Colour
Thanks to all of you who replied. It is much appreciated as I have spent lots of hours trying to find out what the letters meant... I'll pass the info onto my sister... (She doesn't have internet access) My next step would have been to go to Edinburgh Castle and ask the soldiers there... but you all have saved me having to do that.. Thanks
From my experience, I think the L would stand for Local. Lance Sergeants were pretty rare except in certain exotic regiments like the Guards. Chris
From my experience, I think the L would stand for Local. Lance Sergeants were pretty rare except in certain exotic regiments like the Guards. Not in WW2, Lance sgts were quite common it was a standard rank, in artillery a proportion of Bdrs could be LSgt. I assume at least some other parts of the army were the same. Don't assume the WW2 army was the same as post war in these matters, it wasn't. There were also WO3, again common in artillery (and the established strength of RA was greater than Infantry and RAC combined), typically 2 per bty (TSMs) against 1 WO2 per bty (BSM).
The appointment of lance sergeant was abolished throughout the army in 1946 (from 19th century - 1946) with the exception of the HAC and the Brigade of Guards. lance corporal was NOT a rank but an appointment - until 1961 when parliament decreed it a rank for disciplinary matters under military law. lance sergeant likewise is an appointment that can be removed by commanding officers unlike full sergeants who must face courts martial. When on extra regimental courses our sergeant major would contact the RSM of the unit or course to ask if he would allow lance sergeants into his mess as technically we were corporals by pay scale. Still had to buy mess kit on lance sergeants pay!
The appointment of lance sergeant was abolished throughout the army in 1946 (from 19th century - 1946) with the exception of the HAC and the Brigade of Guards. lance corporal was NOT a rank but an appointment - until 1961 when parliament decreed it a rank for disciplinary matters under military law. lance sergeant likewise is an appointment that can be removed by commanding officers unlike full sergeants who must face courts martial. When on extra regimental courses our sergeant major would contact the RSM of the unit or course to ask if he would allow lance sergeants into his mess as technically we were corporals by pay scale. Still had to buy mess kit on lance sergeants pay! i have been trying to find out what x11 list , xv1 list and y lists onmy late fathers records mean mhe was Alexander mcbride 2nd batt SG 2694810 from 1934 - 1944
i have been trying to find out what x11 list , xv1 list and y lists onmy late fathers records mean mhe was Alexander mcbride 2nd batt SG 2694810 from 1934 - 1944 Thomas I left a link on your profiel to a thread that explains , the X list. here. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/service-records/19949-x-lists-service-records.html