Colour Sergeant. F.W.PILCHER / Staff.

Posts : 190 Join date : 2011-03-16 Age : 57

Hi, i have a zulu medal to a Colour Sergeant F.W.Pilcher with 1879 clasp. in Forsyth's medal roll he comes under Staff, does anyone know what he did? any info much appreciated.

Subject: Re: Colour Sergeant. F.W.PILCHER / Staff. Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:45 pm

See the post on M C Keane. Could be General Staff.

What is the exact inscription on the rim?

Posts : 3385 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

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Subject: Re: Colour Sergeant. F.W.PILCHER / Staff. Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:01 pm

He was obviously a clever chap and his talents were spotted. Rapid promotion. Must have been one of the few soldiers of the day who could read and write as he would have needed to have been highly competent in this to have been xferred to the staff corps.

Posts : 3385 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Towerboy

His Service record states he was a Miltary Staff Clerk.

A staff clerk is a professional specialist clerk in the British Army who is a member of an administrative corps, as opposed to a unit clerk.
Staff clerks used to predominantly work in headquarters units alongside staff officers, hence the name.

Subject: Re: Colour Sergeant. F.W.PILCHER / Staff. Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:08 pm

Graves, do you have access to his discharge papers?
Any mention of any injuries or illness which may have forced him to quit soldiering and pick up a pencil?

Posts : 3385 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

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Hi Tasker

I think he was just a clever chap.
Salute

Posts : 3385 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Tasker

He was a Clerk before joining the Army.

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Posts : 3385 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

From the 1891 Census

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Subject: Re: Colour Sergeant. F.W.PILCHER / Staff. Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:54 pm

An interesting career change, clerk to soldier.

A more ambitious young man would have hoped to have made the opposite move.

Perhaps he got bored in the office, wanted to go out see the world and fight for the Empire?

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