Obscure and defunct Military ranks

[reklaw]

Hi,

I was going through my war graves pics and have a few questions about some of the ranks.

What did a Dresser in the vetinary corps do?
What is the difference between a Serjeant and a Sergeant? or is the spelling just peculiar to certain branches of the army?
Is a Lance Sergeant the same as a Corporal?
What does a Colour Sergeant do? as opposed to a Staff Sgt or Sgt Major?
What did an Armourer do? do you still get armourers today?

When I was in the army we only really had Riflemen, Privates, Signalmen, Troopers and Sappers.

With thanks.
Derek.

[Geoffers]

I would guess a dresser was connected with dressing wounds?

Sergeant = Serjeant - one is just an old spelling. I think it is still used for bandsmen, quite possibly some other positions.

Lance Sergeant is a Corporal acting as a Sergeant

Colour Segeant originated from the soldier who protected the regimental colours (ensigns). With the importance of the Colours I would guess that Colour Sergeant was something just above the ordinary rank of Sergeant.

An armourer looks after weapons - their maintenance, I would presume that in centuries gone by this might be the sort of work a smith would do.

Geoffers

[neil1821]

Some other ranks you may come across in various sources in different eras:
Gunner
Driver
Lance-Bombardier
Bombardier
Saddler
Wheeler
Trumpeter
Shoeing-Smith
Farrier Sergeant
Quartermaster Sergeant
Pioneer Sergeant
2nd Corporal
Collar-Maker
Saddletree Maker
Drummer
Bugler
Orderly Room Clerk
Piper
Company Sergeant-Major
Guardsman

Even this isn't a full list I suppose
Can't say I've heard of dresser though. A new one on me

[reklaw]

Thanks for the replies, clears up a few things.... but the dresser still bugs me, I have only seen it on vetinary corps graves, which made me think it was some sort of vets assistant, or a cavalry or horse drawn artillery rank connected with horses, or, as Geoffers suggested, dressing wounds in the 4 legged ranks.

[dcwilkes]

The odd spelling of Sergeant is a remnant of bygone days. Sargent for instance is how the Cornish spelled it so there will be other localised spellings.

[mack]

Hi,

I was going through my war graves pics and have a few questions about some of the ranks.

What did a Dresser in the vetinary corps do?
What is the difference between a Serjeant and a Sergeant? or is the spelling just peculiar to certain branches of the army?
Is a Lance Sergeant the same as a Corporal?
What does a Colour Sergeant do? as opposed to a Staff Sgt or Sgt Major?
What did an Armourer do? do you still get armourers today?

When I was in the army we only really had Riflemen, Privates, Signalmen, Troopers and Sappers.

With thanks.
Derek.a lance serjeant[except guards regts]is a corporal,hes allowed to wear 3 stripes,but he only gets a corporals pay,he is next in line for the next vacant serjeants post.
a armourer maintains, repairs and distributes the regiments weapons
color serjeant,in charge of the regiments colors
staff serjeant.hes on the regimental staff,hes the one you dont mess with,or you dont get fed and watered.
mack