Man in White Suit

When I saw a man dressed like this at the forest cemetery in Estonia I thought maybe he was a forensic policeman gathering evidence. This seemed unlikely so I filed the matter in a bulky folder labelled Unsolved Mysteries.

These mysteries usually remain unsolved but this week in Margravine Cemetery I bumped into the stonemason working for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission similarly attired. I always recognise him because of his white suit and CWGC van and he always recognises Bertie whom he has known since he was four months old. His mission is to add a name to the memorial wall. Private Sydney Bird, Coldstream Guards, died on 13th April 1919 and is buried in a common grave in the cemetery.

I thought I was on firm ground correcting him – Guardsman Bird. We looked at other names and sure enough there was another Coldstreamer who was a Guardsman not a Private. He consulted his sunray and was told to stick with Private. It is not clear cut which is correct. On 22nd November 1918 George VI decreed that Privates in the Foot Guards should be known as Guardsmen “as a mark of His Majesty’s appreciation and pride of the splendid services rendered by the Brigade of Guards during the War” (Coldstream Regimental History).

Other units were similarly honoured. For instance soldiers in rifle regiments became Riflemen, in the RA Gunners, in cavalry regiments Troopers and in REME Craftsmen. The transition  took a few years and it was not until 1923 that his wishes were promulgated in an official order.

CWGC headstones put up after 1923 often but not always apply these new ranks retrospectively. It is after all a privelege to be a Guardsman and not a Private. Incidentally I would, if asked about my brief service in the Irish Guards, describe myself as a Guardsman. The Brigade are egalitarian: other ranks and officers are all Guardsmen and all wear the same Brigade tie.