This is not very old English, but it is a puzzle, so : does anyone have a clue as to what military rank/occupation might have been signified in 1900 by the abbreviation L.Q.M. (in a ship's passenger list Bombay-London)? Also, any idea what RIA might stand for (after the surname)? Also (a little older) does anyone know if soldiers had to be a minimum age for recruitment in 1841?(Marine private aged 15 found in Chatham Barracks) SANDRA LOVEGROVE Researching LOVEGROVEs in all places and at all times. Please do visit the LOVEGROVE Information Centre on http://www.lovegrove.org.uk