Smith
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The person who signs this report for the captain is J. Smith. Msm is it a award or a rank? And if it's a rank (or function) what is it?
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I think he is the holder of the MSM - They generally put these award initials after their names in the diaries.
The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is a silver medal for distinguished service, or for gallantry
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by cyngast moderator
Here MSM stands for Mechanist Sergeant Major rather than Meritorious Service Medal. This rank or appointment is no longer used, so I have not found a lot of information readily on Google, but it would appear that he was probably 2nd-in-command of the workshop.
All signatures in the diaries include the rank of the person signing.
If anyone has better information on this, feel free to jump in and set us straight.
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I think you are correct Cynthis in what you say, never seen that rank before and not as suggested Meritorious Service Medal .
This link mentions a Machist Sergeant-Major. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_major
( A machinist sergeant-major is a specialist most often found in the Corps of Royal Engineers or the Royal Army Service Corps).
I read the Author’s signature and did not notice he was signing for the Captain RASC (The Royal Army Service Corps).
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by cyngast moderator in response to marie.eklidvirginmedia.com's comment.
The machinist sergeant major is a different appointment than the mechanist sergeant major, as far as I can work out. The Mechanist SM worked in the motor workshops on the Western Front.
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by David_Underdown moderator
The MSM does not confer postnominal letters generally, so the rank is more likely.
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