This may not be the correct place for this but I have two questions about this photo. In the foreground is my grandfather and he has two stripes on his right sleeve. He was a Lieut. and may have been a Capt., QMS at this time. What do these stripes mean? Second, there is a substantial piece of German armour in the background (it's on display at Place de la Concorde in Paris), is it a tank?

They look like overseas service chevrons, red one for 1914 and blue one for each year after that (approximately).

These have been covered many times on the forum. Search and you will find.

Nigel

Hi,

looks like a German A7V tank

Cnock

It is. Displayed in Paris with captured guns, sent for scrap in 1925 see photo

Hello,

Interesting photo. Was you granfather in the Canadian or British army? His badges, as far as I can see, seem to be of a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. Your reference to QMS is also interesting, it usually refers to the appointment held by a Warrant Officer - Quarter master sergeant.

Old Tom

Looks like a Sapper to me (but I could be wrong)

Thanks. My grandfather was a Capt. in the 12th Field Co'y 4th Canadian Div. Engineers as was Quartermaster (QM, not the accidental "S" I added earlier). I'm not sure of the date of his promotion but if he's a Lieut. in this image I can trace when it was taken (maybe June 1918) through the war diaries. That tank looks a lot like the hideous G-Class Mercedes came out with the few years ago.