Stripes in the UK Military

Factual Questions
1

Some older relatives of mine recently died, and while going through their effects my mom has dug up photos of her great uncle during WWI. She always thought he was a sargent, but in a photo dated 1917, he has 4 stripes on his sleeve.

Anybody know what 4 stripes means in the UK army circa The Great War?

2

Do you mean stripes, or chevrons? A stripe (a straight line) is worn on the shoulder or down at the end of the sleeve and is indicative of an officer.

A chevron (a V shape) might be what you mean. In that case sometimes designates a sergeant-major (the senior NCO in a unit or formation) or some other senior NCO, such as a band major.

That particular rank insignia is no longer used, except in the case of cermonial units, such as drill squads or military bands.

3

Barbarian,

If the photo is of 1917 and NOT a highland unit, then I suspect that the “stripes” are chevrons worn point upwards on each cuff/forearm and that above the point there should be a small brass eight pointed star, this is the badge of rank of a Quarter-master Serjeant/sergeant (spellings vary at this time) usually abbrieviated to QMS, this was a warrant rank {which later became the rank of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS) when Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) became a rank insted of a Staff-Sergeant appointment}
In (IIRC) February 1918, the badge of rank officially changed to a crown within a laurel wreath.

Walrus

(note, if the photo is of a highlander, then the bage could be that of a pipe major)

4

Here’s a page that has pictures of rank insignia for the Canadian Army throughout the First and Second World Wars. I imagine the UK rank insignia are pretty much the same.

5

There is one regiment which uses 4 stripes to indicate sergeant, I think it is the Coldstream Guards but I’m not completely sure.

6

Thanks. After a second phone call from my mom I determined she was actually talking about chevrons (Mom, if they look like the letter ‘V’ it’s not a stripe…)

Much obliged.

7

If the chevrons are on the right arm they indicate years of atisfactory service 4 for each up to a max of 12 years.
On the left arm they indicate rank or rating.