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Date	Original Topic
19th March 2002	What was a Bombardier? By Gillian Mead My Great, grandfather was a Bombardier in the Royal Artillery in South Africa. I do not know what that means other than he drove a wagon (carrying what???) Can anybody help!!! Thomas Lewis eventually became a Tram Driver in Islington, London. He died in the early 1900's and is buried at Highgate Cemetery. Does anybody live near Highgate? I'd love to know if there is a gravestone or marker...... something to show what a brave man he was.
Date	Replies
19th March 2002	Julian Whybra A bombardier was the Royal Artillery equivalent of a Corporal. So, lance-bombardier = lance-corporal
3rd April 2002	Richard Doherty A bombardier today is the Royal Artillery equivalent of a corporal but this was not always so. He was be the equivalent of a lance-corporal until 1920 and wore a single chevron. The next rank was corporal but this lapsed in the RA with Army Order 142 of 1920. Thereafter, bombardiers were permitted to wear two chevrons and the rank of lance-bombardier came into being. There was also a rank of lance-sergeant (or 'serjeant') which was still in use during the Second World War. Today it exists only in the Guards. So Gillian's great-grandfather was the equivalent of a modern lance-bombardier. The wagon he drove may have carried ammunition.