Gunner, tropper, rifleman

[London Boy]

A colleague and friend of mine (who is a drum major in the Swedish army TA) just asked me about the different modern titles for "frontline troops" in all arms. I rattled off the ones I could think of. Have I missed any out, anyone got any more? This is to do with how a private/airman/marine is addressed - rather than the type of regiment he belongs to, so I didn't mention hussar, dragoon or lancer

Trooper
Rifleman
Gunner
Fusilier
Signaller
Driver
Seaman (Junior, Ordinary, Able, Leading)
Aircraftman (AC, LAC, SAC. Jnr. Tech is now defunct)
Grenadier (not sure about this one, can't say I've ever seen or heard a Grenadier Guard's private being addressed as grenadier)
Guardsman ? (again not a 100% sure here)
Engineer?

[Angry_Young_Man]

AirTrooper - AAC
Craftsman - REME
Sapper - RE
Musician - Military Bands

[London Boy]

Thanks AYM

Musicians as far as a I remember are non-combatant!

And is a craftsman a frontline soldier?

Sorry, if I didn't explain myself properly, I thought I did, but maybe I didn't

Frontline/combat troops of the rank & file that aren ot addressed as private but as trooper, gunner, rifleman etc.

[harry hackedoff]

MARINE

[got1]

Any one of the above mentioned can be a"front line" soldier.
You could have a Craftsman from the REME trying to get your vehicle back on the road, a Sapper building your defences or a Bandsman acting as medics and strecher bearers all under fire.

[harry hackedoff]

What`s a "tropper"

[harry hackedoff]

And there is no such rank as "Seaman" in the RN.
There`s Ordinary, Able and Leading Seaman and they`d get very upset if you called them a seaman

[London Boy]

MARINE

Why do you think I left it off the list Harry? I wanted to see you blow a gasket mate!

[London Boy]

Any one of the above mentioned can be a"front line" soldier.
You could have a Craftsman from the REME trying to get your vehicle back on the road, a Sapper building your defences or a Bandsman acting as medics and strecher bearers all under fire.

Good points.

[London Boy]

What`s a "tropper"

Same as a trooper, he just gets paid more!

[London Boy]

And there is no such rank as "Seaman" in the RN.
There`s Ordinary, Able and Leading Seaman and they`d get very upset if you called them a seaman

Sorry. You are of course quite right. And don't forget Junior Seaman.
I was a bit lazy there with seaman, 'cos I see now I wrote airman as well instead of the correct aircraftman, LAC, and SAC.

[Sarastro]

Skygod

[London Boy]

Kingsman
Queensman (now defunct)
Highlander
Ranger

As for a private rank in the Grenadier Guards, his correct term of address is Guardsman (Gdsm) as per the other four regiments.

Colloquially of course there's: Tom, Jock & Squaddie

Thanks PA you are a mine of information. Exactly what I required. Kingsman and Queensman I recognise. And I thought guardsman was right.

Ranger? Connaught?

[Angry_Young_Man]

Thanks PA you are a mine of information. Exactly what I required. Kingsman and Queensman I recognise. And I thought guardsman was right.

Ranger? Connaught?

Ranger = Royal Irish Regiment