Hi
All.
You
maybe are aware I live on the Somme, and have always been keen on my
Regiments Proud and Costly Heritage, I recently found a few WW1 Guards with new
replaced stones marked as Private, in WW1 they where indeed Privates, joined as
Privates and died as Privates today if you visit a CWGC cemetery you read in
the register Private Smith 2nd
Grenadier Guards, on the Stone it will say Guardsman.
On 22nd November 1918, just 11 days after the
Armistice, the King decreed that a private of the Guards would henceforward
carry the title of “Guardsman” as “a mark of His Majesty’s appreciation
and pride of the splendid services rendered by the Brigade of Guards during the
war”.
When
I raised the question with the Commonwealth war graves the answer was that as
the King stated “henceforward” all foot Guards Regiments of WW1 will have the
stone replaced with the rank as Private, I brought this to the attention RHQ
Grenadier Guards.
And
sent all the below.
“Together with
the help of the 5 Regimental Colonels and Major General Household Division, you
may be able uncover the truth or myth of the current situation and in doing so
save the CWGC a lot of money and solve once and for all the reason
why, although in WW1 those joining and dying as Privates in the Guards had
their stones engraved as Guardsman.
The
current Commission policy is to amend headstones from Guardsman to Private for
all men who died before 1 January 1919. However, because of the status of
the Guards Regiments, the CWGC has started a thorough review of this policy to
ensure that everything is being done correctly. This will take some time
to complete, as the CWGC will need to consult with outside resources as well as
searching the CWGC own archives.
Post
war communication between HM the King and the Guards (Household
Division) and the CWGC (IWGC) must have taken place on the subject, directing
that Privates of the Guards should be marked as Guardsman having joined,
served and died as Privates but having won the rank of Guardsman. I know
the Guards will have their views, if not evidence on the subject, it
could not have happened by mistake or without a directive.
The Household Division HQ should be able to
confirm from Household Division Standing Orders or other correspondence, Buckingham
Palace archives should be able confirm any correspondence from the
King on the subject.
I have an original booklet "The Guards
Division 1914-18" published by S.Kellaway, it simply has by Regiment and
Rank the names of all KIA of the Guards, I have only counted each of the
Grenadier Guardsman (Private) there are 3595 listed, just taken as a guess that
if half- 1795 have
named graves, and the other half 1795 are recorded on the various memorials to
the missing, if half of those being 898 are buried and marked as an Unknown
Grenadier Guardsman, potentially we have 2693 Grenadier
Guardsman Grave stones.
Can
you the CWGC confirm how many Guardsman headstones from the five Regiments of
foot Guards will need to be replaced.
If all avenues of investigations fail to
solve the mystery, I wonder if asked would Her Majesty on the anniversary of
the Great War be so gracious to belatedly bestow the honor on the Privates of
the Guards Division in the Great War.”
As
below from the CWGC, I’m very pleased that after some time the MOD and the CWGC
confirm, WW1 Privates will be commemorated as GUARDSMAN.
Dear Mr Bedford,
Arrangements for the Commemoration of Guardsmen
I am writing further to your correspondence of earlier this year
on this matter with my colleagues.
I am sorry it has taken some time to establish the relevant facts
but, following on from correspondence with the MOD, Commission policy in
relation to the commemoration of Guardsmen has been reviewed. Consequently I
can confirm that from now on the headstones of Privates of the Guards Regiments
will record the rank of Guardsman in accordance with their original format. Any
headstones which have over time been altered to include Private will be
reverted to Guardsman as they fall due for replacement.
I trust that you will approve of this course of action and thank
you for bringing this matter to the attention of the Commission.
To
all those who called me Regimental Rod, It was worth it.
Happy
Christmas to you and all those you hold dear.
Rodders
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