(P & L) Private

[Frank Schofield]

Just come across an Army rank I have never seen before

(P & L) Private.  In the Royal Army Service Corps

Any ideas??

Frank Schofield

[Peter Harvey]

Hi Frank,

I think this abbreviation is Pioneer and Labour (Private), so a left over from the older Labour Corps.

Regards Peter

[Frank Schofield]

Peter

Makes sense, thanks for that

Frank

[Michael Dobbs]

Frank & Peter

I have come across this which indicates that there were Labour Companies in the Army Service Corps in WW1:
[url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/royal-pioneer-corps]https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/royal-pioneer-corps[/url]

Also see this link and scroll down to ASC Labour Companies
[url=https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-army-service-corps-in-the-first-world-war/]https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-army-service-corps-in-the-first-world-war/[/url]

Note that the Army Service Corps did not receive the 'Royal' prefix until 1918.
The Labour Corps was formed in 1917 and disbanded in 1920.

Mike  :)