King`s Corporal

[loosehead]

I recently saw in a newspaper obituary a reference to the fact that the subject, a Seaforth, had been promoted to King`s Corporal in the early months of WW2. (He was caprured at St. Valery.) I can find no info anywhere about this rank/appointment. Can anybody help?

[Overland]

I’m no expert in these matters – and stand to be corrected – but I believe the rank might be a bit of an Old Soldiers’ Tale. It is suggested that a soldier could be promoted to the rank of King’s Corporal in the field during or immediately after an action. Once promoted to King’s Corporal, the story suggests that only the King could remove the rank. I believe that there are those who have looked at King’s Regs, as they were then, and can find no mention of the rank.

Also, the following Hansard entry might give a clue:

"King's Corporal"
HC Deb 10 October 1944 vol 403 cc1590-1W 1590W
§ Mr. Wootton-Davies
asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of King's Corporals; how many have been created during the present war; what are the rules and conditions governing the rank, together with the award and 1591W privileges; and whether he can give a list of such King's Corporals together with the reasons for the appointment in each case.
§ Sir J. Grigg
Extensive investigations have failed to disclose any factual basis for the suggestion made from time to time that there is, or has been within living memory, any such rank as King's Corporal.

[loosehead]

Overland - I believe you may be right. I have seen that PQ quoted elsewhere; neither the Seaforths` (now the Highlanders`) regimental museum nor two or three military history sites I have tried had any knowledge. There is an Australian Army veterans site forum, where some claims are made that such a rank existed in the Australian Army during and after WW1, even describing the insignia (a crown above the 2 chevrons), but, like you, I think the whole thing`s an old sweat`s tale.