Talk:Garrison sergeant major

Article's name

This article seems to be all about GSM (London District), rather than about GSMs in general. Perhaps the article should be retitled? Chiswick Chap (talk) 12:41, 29 July 2012 (UTC)

Plurals

Note that in the British Armed Forces the plural is "sergeant majors" and not "sergeants major". That would assume that a sergeant major is a sergeant and "major" is simply a modifier. However, in Britain this is not the case. The sergeant major is a warrant officer, not a senior sergeant, and the rank or appointment is entirely separate from that of sergeant. For an illustration of official British usage see the very bottom of this page of the London Gazette. And it isn't a new usage either: see this page from 1881. The earliest usage of "sergeant majors" in The Times is in 1822. The last of the (very occasional) usages of "sergeants major", except when referring to American NCOs, is in 1938. I'm not sure of the practice in the rest of the Commonwealth, although it was certainly identical to the British practice up to and during World War II. -- Necrothesp (talk) 17:03, 8 November 2012 (UTC)

There are other GSMs

besides the London district. May try to find and update.

BlueD954 (talk) 12:01, 18 July 2020 (UTC)

Sergeant majors / sergeants major

There is presently a discussion on the correct term in British and Commonwealth nations for the plural of sergeant major. Editors are welcome to comment at Talk:Regimental sergeant major#Plurals. Dgp4004 (talk) 13:56, 20 July 2026 (UTC)