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Gunner, tropper, rifleman
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 9:34 am
by 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?
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 11:10 am
by Angry_Young_Man
AirTrooper - AAC
Craftsman - REME
Sapper - RE
Musician - Military Bands
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 1:17 pm
by 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.
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 1:53 pm
by harry hackedoff
MARINE 
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 1:57 pm
by 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.
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 1:58 pm
by harry hackedoff
What`s a "tropper"
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 2:04 pm
by 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
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 2:11 pm
by London Boy
harry hackedoff wrote:MARINE
Why do you think I left it off the list Harry? I wanted to see you blow a gasket mate!
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 2:12 pm
by London Boy
got1 wrote: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.
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 2:13 pm
by London Boy
harry hackedoff wrote:What`s a "tropper"
Same as a trooper, he just gets paid more!
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 2:16 pm
by London Boy
harry hackedoff wrote: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.
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 2:41 pm
by Sarastro
Skygod
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 2:49 pm
by London Boy
PA0578 wrote: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?
Posted: Tue 11 Mar, 2008 3:18 pm
by Angry_Young_Man
London Boy wrote:
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