WW1 Uniform - any ideas, please?

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:00 pm

Please, can someone who has an idea about uniforms have a look at the photo which I am just about to put into the gallery.
http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-766
image URL added, LesleyB
This photo may be an ancestor but there are no clues. It appears to have been sent in an envelope as the stamp has come through onto the back of the photo but all I can make out is 1919.
I hope it is clear enough for anyone who knows about uniforms to be able to identify it.
Thanks,
Rach

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:21 am

Hi Rach

Looks likely to be an Artillery Unit - the cap badge looks like Royal Field Artillery and the Bandolier would indicate a driver or gunlayer - the lanyard on the left shoulder would also indicate a gunner. Bit hard to get anything else as the photo distorts as you enlarge it. On the other hand the soft cap and badge on the left shoulder may indicate that he was part of a commonwealth unit - such as the Canadian Expeditionary Force - my money is on him being in an artillery unit from an allied country in WW1.

You may get a more expert opinion on the Great War Forum:-

http://www.1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/

I am sure someone else may suggest more.

Regards

Ted

Post by **Tracey** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:21 am

Hi Rach

Im wondering if the "prop" would give you more of a clue - unless every regiments soldiers had a photo taken like it

I wonder if contacting
http://www.cwgc.org/ or the like could help you on this one ?

Tracey

Post by **emanday** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:37 am

Sorry to disagree, Ted. The cap badge looks more likely to be Royal Signals than RFA.

My Dad was in the RFA and, if memory serves me, the cap badge he had looks nothing like that.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:55 am

Mary

Don't worry about disagreeing - that's what info sharing here on TS is all about - the more opinions posted the more help it will be to Rach.

Best regards

Ted

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 5:06 pm

First of all, thank you, Lesley, for putting in the link.

Secondly, thank you, Ted, Tracey and emanday for your replies and the websites to look up. There were ancestors who joined the C.E.F. I did try the Canadian site yesterday but didn't have much success. Would the C.E.F have had a maple leaf on the cap badge? Using a large magnifying glass I'm sure the badge is a crescent wreath with 3 feathers at the top. Does that help at all?
I will now go and look around these sites you have given me.
Rach

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 1:21 am

Rach

Have a look at this site it may be of some help.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/canada.htm

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:13 pm

Thanks, Stewie, I have just had a look at that site but the only one which looks vaguely like it is on the first page. However I'm not sure that it is a crown at the top on the badge on my photo. I'll keep trawling the sites to see what else I can find. I haven't yet put a posting onto the site Ted suggested. I'm sure there must be others taken with the Flags of Freedom.
Rach

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:18 pm

$\:D/$ Yes, it is one of these great moments in the ancestral research.
Ted, thank you for the link to the 1914-1918 site. I posted the photo yesterday and received a great response. One person was able to identify the badge and along with attestation papers I now know that the badge is that of the Canadian Engineers and, more importantly, who he is. He is an unknown soldier no longer. Terrific! I am so grateful.
Rach $\:D/$

Ted · Post by **Ted** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:25 pm

Hi Rach

Brilliant result - times like these make it all worthwhile don't they. I had a look at your post on the GWF - you got some superb replies there.

One point - from the attestation papers you obtained - you asked what B11 on the form indicated - it meant that on part B of the medical examination he was categorised as fit to march at least 5 miles whilst carrying a rifle and that he was also able to fire the rifle looking through both eyes - or words to that effect. I have a service record from WW1 for one of my lot and he was marked as having been B11 unfit - so I looked it up - my guy was blind in one eye and did not pass that part of the medical - so they made him a stretcher bearer in the RAMC instead of an infantryman.

Anyway - enjoy your find - now that you have his attestation papers you may be able to get the rest of his service record - or if he died during the war you should get details on the CWGC site.

Best regards

Ted