Hi Liz and Alwyn, This may be a little late but I've just read your emails (below) from October. Hopefully this can provide some clarity with regard to Liz's query about commissionaires. To this day The Corps of Commissionaires provide a valued security service. >From the UK Corps Site - "The Corps was founded in 1859 by Captain Sir Edward Walter in order to gain meaningful employment for former soldiers, sailors and the militia who had effectively been abandoned by society after their return from the Crimea. The culture remains to give value recognition for today's recent service leavers and a second career option in continuing to use their skills and experience to interface with technology in a commercial security role, at home and overseas. With the ending of National Service, the brief was extended to incorporate former members of the Emergency Services including the Police, the Fire and Ambulance, the Prison Service and the Coast Guards....." >From Canadian Corps History - "In 1915 the Duke of Connaught, then Governor General of Canada, suggested to the authorities that a Corps be formed in Canada. Patterned on the Corps in England, it would provide a livelihood for unemployed veterans of World War I. On 25 July 1925, a Charter was obtained and three Companies were organized - No. 1 in Montreal, No 2 in Toronto, and No. 3 in Vancouver. In 1936, action was taken by the Department of Pensions and National Health to renew the letters patent of the old Charter. Supplementary Letters Patent revising the original Charter were issued in February 1937 and, in June 1937, His Excellency the Governor General, Lord Tweedsmuir, became the first Patron-in-Chief of the Corps, and the Lieutenant-Governors were asked to become Patrons....." Liz, there are lots of websites that may be of assistance in your research about this profession. A few are: http://www.the-security-net.co.uk/adverts/corps/main.htm (UK) http://www.the-corps.co.uk (UK) http://www.commissionaires.ca (Canada) Hope this helps, Regards, Leslie O'Neill-Reynolds -----Original Message----- From: AlwynapHuw@aol.com [mailto:AlwynapHuw@aol.com] Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2001 4:41 PM To: WALES-GEN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [WALES-GEN] occupation query I may be totally wrong in respect of your ancestor's occupation, but to me a commissionaire is the person who stands at the door of a cinema or theatre to welcome patrons Regards Alwyn In a message dated 14/10/2001 21:16:41 GMT Daylight Time, ElizabethHessan@aol.com writes: > can sks tell me if the occupation commisionaire would be applied to a > person > who had recently left the forces in the 1950's, or is there some other job > that would conver this description. > tia > liz