On LQM The letter before the QM does not normally refer to rank but rather (as Eve suggested) indicates army sub-division level for which the person is Quarter Master, e.g. Regimental, Squadron, Company. Could this one be a badly written C for Company. I cannot, at present, think of a relevant 'L' sub-division having a QM. Further thought leads me to doubt the 'Rank in Army" interpretation of RIA in this case. That a person is, for instance, designated RQM shows only the office or position held and does not indicate the rank of the holder. (Although the holder's rank would normally be within a fairly restricted range.) If there had been letters after the 'M' then rank could have been indicated. E.g. CQMSM - Company Quarter Master Sergeant Major. Bob

LQM I think Roy is probably right in Lieutentant & Quarter Master although in WW1 this was abbreviated as QM & Lieut. http://www.documentsonline.pro.gov.uk/help/Abbreviations-rank.asp#QQ Charles -----Original Message----- From: R. J. Kane [mailto:rjkane@paradise.net.nz] Sent: 31 May 2004 10:31 To: OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [OEL] military matters On LQM The letter before the QM does not normally refer to rank but rather (as Eve suggested) indicates army sub-division level for which the person is Quarter Master, e.g. Regimental, Squadron, Company. Could this one be a badly written C for Company. I cannot, at present, think of a relevant 'L' sub-division having a QM. Further thought leads me to doubt the 'Rank in Army" interpretation of RIA in this case. That a person is, for instance, designated RQM shows only the office or position held and does not indicate the rank of the holder. (Although the holder's rank would normally be within a fairly restricted range.) If there had been letters after the 'M' then rank could have been indicated. E.g. CQMSM - Company Quarter Master Sergeant Major. Bob ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== OLD-ENGLISH Web Page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/