32 replies to this topic

[FROGSMILE]

Verrico2009, on 12 July 2012 - 07:41 AM, said:

http://flickr.com/gp/louiq/0Y7V54

http://flickr.com/gp/louiq/bb2UPu

http://flickr.com/gp/louiq/561RYk

The second photo shows a Royal Marine pensioner, often taken on as 'RM Police' (who were maintained on a separate roll) for a further period of service and employed at the RM bases.

I still do not feel confident enough to go firm with the others, they are especially poor prints and do not appear to be from a glass plate so the resolution of the badges is very distorted.

[FamilySearch]

FROGSMILE, on 12 July 2012 - 06:14 PM, said:

The second photo shows a Royal Marine pensioner, often taken on as 'RM Police' (who maintained a separate roll) for a further period of service and employed at the RM bases.

Thank you.  Just as I had suspected as I knew he was in the Royal Navy most of his life, retired, and then went into the Royal Marines when the war started.  His gravestone lists it as "R.N.; R.M. LAB. CPS.; B.E.F."  What does the LAB. CPS. mean?  Is that labourer? or an actual Laboratory?

[FROGSMILE]

FamilySearch, on 12 July 2012 - 06:47 PM, said:

Thank you.  Just as I had suspected as I knew he was in the Royal Navy most of his life, retired, and then went into the Royal Marines when the war started.  His gravestone lists it as "R.N.; R.M. LAB. CPS.; B.E.F."  What does the LAB. CPS. mean?  Is that labourer? or an actual Laboratory?

LAB CPS relates to the Labour Corps that was formed in 1917.  It generally held and employed men in a wide variety of 'physical grades', including the lowest possible.  The intent was to find use for every man in what had become a war of National survival.  Everyone could 'do his bit' in the Labour Corps.  Low grades could range from men who had military experience, but who were physically weaker through age (they would oversee the more able bodied, but less experienced), or men who had been wounded in other parts of the Army and were no longer fit for the front line.  The range of jobs open to these men was extensive and both in France and Flanders (BEF) and at home.

[Tyneside Chinaman]

Remember there were two companies of the Royal Marine Labour Corps raised,

Their cap badge was the Globe and Laurel but the Crown and Lion or the RMLI Bugle was replaced with a sailing ship. I had one when I was 14 and wuz robbed by a bloke who knew exactly how rare it was.

If he has R.M. LAB. CPS on his grave stone he belonged to this unit for my money

regards

John

[FamilySearch]

Tyneside Chinaman, on 12 July 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

Remember there were two companies of the Royal Marine Labour Corps raised,

Their cap badge was the Globe and Laurel but the Crown and Lion or the RMLI Bugle was replaced with a sailing ship. I had one when I was 14 and wuz robbed by a bloke who knew exactly how rare it was.

If he has R.M. LAB. CPS on his grave stone he belonged to this unit for my money

regards

John

His cap badge was the globe and laurel.  Is there any way of finding out which company he was in?  I do know that he went to France and returned at the end of the war.  I originally thought that since he retired from mine sweeping with the RN (Captain) that he may have joined the RMC to help with transport, but I'm sure that I was wrong.  Sounds like more of a support unit than anything else.

[FROGSMILE]

Tyneside Chinaman, on 12 July 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

Remember there were two companies of the Royal Marine Labour Corps raised,

Their cap badge was the Globe and Laurel but the Crown and Lion or the RMLI Bugle was replaced with a sailing ship. I had one when I was 14 and wuz robbed by a bloke who knew exactly how rare it was.

If he has R.M. LAB. CPS on his grave stone he belonged to this unit for my money

regards

John

That's a very good point John and seems quite likely to me.  I had not considered it as I could not see the ship on the badge, but I suspect that that 'special' badge was not initially available.  I think you are right that it was probably his unit though.

[FROGSMILE]

FamilySearch, on 12 July 2012 - 11:29 PM, said:

His cap badge was the globe and laurel.  Is there any way of finding out which company he was in?  I do know that he went to France and returned at the end of the war.  I originally thought that since he retired from mine sweeping with the RN (Captain) that he may have joined the RMC to help with transport, but I'm sure that I was wrong.  Sounds like more of a support unit than anything else.

There is a forum member who specialises in Pioneer and Labour Corps history.  If you send him a PM he might be able to help, or at least point you in the right direction.  His name is Ivor Lee and he has jointly authored a book on the Corps.

Here is a link to a website connected with the Corps and the book concerned.  You will see that there is a list of units there:  http://www.labourcorps.co.uk/

[FamilySearch]

FROGSMILE, on 13 July 2012 - 10:37 AM, said:

There is a forum member who specialises in Pioneer and Labour Corps history.  If you send him a PM he might be able to help, or at least point you in the right direction.  His name is Ivor Lee and he has jointly authored a book on the Corps.

Here is a link to a website connected with the Corps and the book concerned.  You will see that there is a list of units there:  http://www.labourcorps.co.uk/

Thank you very much.  I glanced at the site and it would appear that this is a task with a 50/50 chance.  In any case, I will certainly attempt to contact Mr. Lee and see what he can tell me.  Thanks again.