Was a WW1 Sergeant higher ranked than a Rifleman ?

[AngieToton]

I'm looking at a daily casualty list with my Grandfather's name on and he's down as a sergeant but nearly everyone else on the list is down as a rifleman - does this mean anything ?

[MaxD]

The Riflemen are the lowest rank in a Rifle regiment.  Grandfather has started at Rifleman and been promoted to Lance Corporal, then Corporal and now Serjeant so yes- he outranked them all.  There were many more Riflemen that Serjeants which is why more of them are on the list.

MaxD 

PS  Rifle regiments used (and use) the old spelling of serjeant, a casualty list wouldn't make the distinction.

[AngieToton]

Thanks, he’d only been serving for 1 year in WW1 when he was injured so had gone up the ranks quite quickly ( probably due to him being older & new soldiers joining his regiment to replace those killed or injured )

[MaxD]

Likely then that he was already serving when war broke out - would you like to give his name and which rifle (or light infantry) regiment he was in?

MaxD

[AngieToton]

Albert Victor Gray - 11th Rifle Brigade - I’ve downloaded the War Diary & am typing it up. He was injured on 3rd Sept 1916 at the Battle of Guillemont.
He recovered & went for Officer training & then served in Egypt - but I can’t find with which regiment he went with ?? Any ideas ??

[mackers]

Medal card of Gray, Albert V Corps: Grenadier Guards Regiment No: 31128 ...
Reference:    WO 372/8/105111
Medal card of Gray, Albert V
Corps    Regiment No    Rank
Grenadier Guards    31128    Guardsman
Could this be his medal card?

You can apply for a copy of the original from the National Archives Records Office on line at WW1 Medal Rolls.

[John(txic)]

As an officer, his service record should be available from the National Archives - but it'll be pricey...

[MaxD]

Not the guardsman.

He was S/3165 Sjt Albert Victor Gray.  Went to France with 11 Rifle Brigade in July 1915,  Commissioned in the Rifle Brigade on 28 August 1917 his records are at the National Archives (as john(txic) says)  at http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1146178

May not be possible to find who he served with in Egypt without his record but I'll cast around. A number of battalions of the RB formed later in the war went to Egypt for garrison duties, as an experienced  (now) officer, that would sound likely.  See:

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/the-rifle-brigade-1914-1918/


MaxD

[MaxD]

Two snippets from the London Gazette

18 May 1920 he is recorded as being appointed 13 Dec 1919 as Assistant Adjutant in a Demob Camp (no details of where)

6 August 1920 relinquishes his commission on completion of service 1 Jun 1920.

MaxD