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In the British Armed Forces, a warrant officer is the highest non-commissioned rank, holding the Queen's (or King's) warrant, which is signed by the Secretary of State for Defence. Warrant officers are not saluted, but are to be addressed as 'Sir/Ma'am' by subordinates. Their seniors may address warrant officers either by their appointment (e.g. QMSI, RSM or sergeant major) or as "Mister", "Mrs", or "Ms" and then their last name, e.g. "Mr Smith". Warrant officers have all been promoted from lower ranks

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_officer_(United_Kingdom)


Roy

Not quite, it looks to me that he was a Warrant Officer Class 2 doing his job as a Quartermaster-Sergeant (RQMS) and then given the honorary rank of Lieutenant to become the Quartermaster (QM)

RQMS is a second in command post within a regiment and the QM is in full command so he the (QM) is the boss

Roy

So was he a comissioned officer when he got the post as qartermaster then?
Sorry i'm probably being dense here!

(So his job was Quartermaster and his rank was Sergeant) NO, at that time to be a Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS you had the rank of senior Warrant Officer Class 2

In laymans terms thats a Sergeant Major to most people

Warrant Officer Class 1 is regimental sergeant major which is above a Warrant Officer Class 2


Roy

rank structure for officers are,

bottom, officer cadet, then 2nd Lieutenant, then Lieutenant, then Captain, then Major, then Lieutenant Colonel, then Colonel, then Brigadier, then General, then Field Marshal

your man came through the ranks that means he started at the very bottom as a Private and worked his way to the top as a none commissioned officer before gaining his commission and then progressing through the officer ranks

Roy

Ah ok thanks for that - complete dunce when it comes to regimental ranks!

so his job was Quartermaster and his rank was Sergeant (1891 Gazette)Lieutenant (Marriage Certificate and 1891 Gazette) Captain (1901 Gazette) and Major (1906 & 1908 Gazette) then he retired

Does that sound like a normally rank progression?

Thanks

It looks like it could be your man

Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS) is an appointment held by a senior Warrant Officer Class 2 in the British Army and Royal Marines. The RQMS is the senior assistant to the Quartermaster of a regiment or battalion and also usually functions as the deputy Regimental Sergeant Major.until 1915, when it became a Warrant Officer appointment with the creation of Warrant Officers Class II

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battalion_Quartermaster_Sergeant

Note that Regiment, Quartermaster-Sergeant (RQMS) is an appointment and not his rank

you are confusing the two as one and the same thing

an appointment is the job title and his rank was Lieutenant on the marriage cert

also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartermaster

Roy

And maybe this too?

Quartermaster and Honorary Captain Andrew
Smith, The Suffolk Regiment, is granted the
honorary rank of Major. Dated 19th August,
1906.

Ok so in the gazette I have found....

The Suffolk Regiment, Quartermaster-Sergeant
Andrew Smith to be Quartermaster, with the
honorary rank of Lieutenant, vice Honorary
Captain William Cox, retired. Dated 19th
August, 1891.

Does that sound like it could be my man being as he was listed as a Lieutenant? QM on his marriage certificate in 1892 with the 1st Suffolk Regiment?

You won't find anything on him personally on the National Archives website. Any record for him would be at the National Archives -ie you'd have to go there or get someone to go for you.

You could search the London Gazette which should give dates of promotions and resignation of commisssion.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/

The Regimental Museum might have a little on him but not his actual records.

NO lieutenant colonel is a higher rank

lieutenant colonel is just above captain but below colonel

Roy

Would that be the same as a lieutenant colonel?

Just a note

Lisent?? Q M

could be Lieutenant QM

The QM would be a commissioned officer normally the rank of Lieutenant

Edit, meant to say would normally be the rank of Major but can be a second Lieutenant

Quartermaster (QM) is the officer in a battalion or regiment responsible for supplies and would normally have come through the ranks before gaining his commission

Roy

Do you know what rank Lisent?? and QM stands for?

You can search National Archives. If he was an officier in the army, you could start here

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/britisharmyofficerbefore1913.htm

Andy

I'm a bit confused as to where to start looking on the National Archives website...

Thank you for the Probate listing - I hadn't found that yet!! :)

Kate

Not military, but may be of interest

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
about Andrew Ritchie Smith
Name: Andrew Ritchie Smith
Probate Date: 20 Apr 1938
Death Date: 16 Jan 1937
Death Place: Derbyshire, England
Registry: Nottinghamshire, England

of Croft House Findern Lane Findern Derbyshire
to Victor Ritchie Smith, eletrical contractor
Effects £275 10s 3d


Andy

Have you looked at the National Archives website ?

I know that Andrew Ritchie SMITH
b. 1854 in Bridgeton, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland,
resided in Keighley, Yorkshire from 1861 - 1892
Married Louisa Diana ROWLANDS 1st June 1892 Keighley Yorkshire
His son Victor Ritchie SMITH was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire in 1903

I know he was in the military his marriage certificate lists him as a Lisent?? Q M in the 1st Suffolk Regiment and in the 1911 Census he is listed as a Retired Army Officer Lecturer and living in Surrey.

Where do I start to find out about his Army career??

Thanks,

Katie