On Saturday, December 6, 2014 4:18:39 AM UTC-8, David Marshall wrote: > In January 1883 Corporal Booth of the Grenadier Guards married Elizabeth > Bennett from Ireland in Clewer Berks. The marriage was correctly noted > in his Army records. > However on the civil marriage certificate his only occupation was given > as lacemaker, which was indeed his occupation before and after his > military service. > On other marriage certificates for military personnel that I have seen > (admittedly mainly in the 20th century) the serviceman's rank and number > are recorded. > Can anyone suggest if this case is unusual, or what might be an explanation? > > David People cared about social position then as now. A soldier was pretty low on the totem pole - very low - and I would suggest that he thought lacemaker was a better choice to put on an official marriage record. Regards, The Chief