2853 replies to this topic

[high wood]

Unknown private, London Irish. I have clipped the background to get the picture uploaded without losing too much detail but I think the background shows the ruins of the Grand Place in Arras.

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[Peter Doyle]

4thGordons, on 30 September 2010 - 03:50 AM, said:

Going with the Backwards Sam Browne thing.
Here is a squad of what I take to be MPs wearing the Sam Browne backwards (presumably to support cuffs or a truncheon or...) The officer in the center has his on in the conventional fashion.

Interesting, that. I notice the small ammunition pouch at the termination of the cross-strap with the belt, so presume they also have pistols? This might back up the 'MP' (regimental Police?) idea.  Difficult to see. I wonder if anyone else has views on this?

Peter

[Andrew Upton]

Peter Doyle, on 04 October 2010 - 09:42 AM, said:

... I notice the small ammunition pouch at the termination of the cross-strap with the belt, so presume they also have pistols? This might back up the 'MP' (regimental Police?) idea.  Difficult to see. I wonder if anyone else has views on this?

Except the one chap standing far right who has his on the other side

Pistol would be logical, but they're all cunningly positioned so that it's not possible to see them if they have them!

[robins2]

KennethB, on 03 October 2010 - 03:39 AM, said:

Soldier from CEF. Don't know the Battalion. Note the rifle doesn't look like an Lee Enfield.

rifle probably the infamous Ross rifle issued but soon discarded at the front in favor of the more reliable enfield

[robins2]

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[trenchtrotter]

Posted on behalf of another. Excellent studies of soldiers from 8th Royal Scots, pioneers to the 51st Highland Div from Aug 1915. Note crossed rifle and pick collars. The sgt is GS Souness KIA 22/3/1918 during great german Spring Offensive. Truely emotive images.

And individually.....

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[seadog]

For those of you who may have missed it, click the link to view the many original photos.

Independent newspaper WW1 photos

Norman

PS There are 286 photos!

[MBrockway]

Andy Wade, on 23 September 2010 - 03:24 PM, said:

I've just started putting mine here:

Soldier Photos

Here's nice one of Mr Welby of the Artists Rifles:



WELBY, DAVIS
Second Lieutenant, Royal Garrison Artillery
Age: 43. Date of Death: 23/10/1918.
Husband of Edith Welby, of 3, Park Parade, Harrogate.
HARROGATE (HARLOW HILL) CEMETERY, H. 69.

Andy,
According to the Artist's Rifles Roll of Honour, he was 760683 Welby and gazetted into the RGA on 01 Jul 1917.
Cheers,
Mark

[Andy Wade]

MBrockway, on 06 October 2010 - 08:03 PM, said:

Andy,
According to the Artist's Rifles Roll of Honour, he was 760683 Welby and gazetted into the RGA on 01 Jul 1917.
Cheers,
Mark

Thank you Mark!
I've added that information to his page on the wiki here: http://soldierphotos...paces.com/Welby

[MBrockway]

Andy Wade, on 06 October 2010 - 09:12 PM, said:

Thank you Mark!
I've added that information to his page on the wiki here: http://soldierphotos...paces.com/Welby

Andy,
You have a Service Number for him on the reverse of the card of 4539.

This would be his original Artists' Rifles SN before the TF renumbering begun on 01 Mar 1917 when he was issued the new number of 760683 used in the Artists' Rifles Roll of Honour..

This also shows us that he was already enlisted in the Artists' Rifles on 01 Mar 1917.

According to Paul Nixon's Army Service Number website, the SN 4539 would indicate an enlistment into the Artists' Rifles between July and October 1915, with September 1915 being the most likely.

HTH
Cheers,
Mark

[Andy Wade]

Many thanks for this Mark. I've edited a condensed version of your posts on the web page accompanying Davis Welby's picture. I think I have it right and have credited you with supplying the information. I hope this is OK.

Cheers,
Andy.

[GRUMPY]

Eastbourne Coll OTC
NB the use of the VF "efficiency" diamond on the cuffs.

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[GRUMPY]

detail

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[4thGordons]

robins2, on 05 October 2010 - 02:27 AM, said:

ross_1905_1.jpg ross_1905_1.jpg

Wrong sort of Ross! This is the 1905 with Harris magazine and leaf sight. The chap in the picture is holding an M1910 (MkIII) with a receiver sight.
Here is the MkIII
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[trenchtrotter]

Thankyou for ther info re rifles 4th Gordons. Thanks for all posters so far. However can I make a polite request to keep this on postcards, uniforms and insignia with mild diversions.

Many thanks to all contributors thus far. I have some gems to follow re soldiers, insignia and details.

TT

[4thGordons]

Will delete rifle image if you wish - just let me know.

In the mean time: Count the wound stripes!

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And an anonymous ASC man with 03 belt and pouches and a simplified pattern jacket (with leather "football" buttons)and a nice view of the top of the hat!
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[4thGordons]

Northamptonshire Rgt. In KD jacket but with wool cap. Unknown (yellow?) triangular formation sign.
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Chris

[trenchtrotter]

Superb images and thanks...no need to remove any images.

Thanks

TT

[tocemma]

Peter Doyle, on 04 October 2010 - 09:42 AM, said:

Interesting, that. I notice the small ammunition pouch at the termination of the cross-strap with the belt, so presume they also have pistols? This might back up the 'MP' (regimental Police?) idea.  Difficult to see. I wonder if anyone else has views on this?

Peter

Below a slightly clearer view of the strap. I have a kit listing showing Strap, Supporting, Pistol. for MPs. This chap is mounted. No armlet or shoulder titles visible, but the red cap cover can be seen. The ammunition case is on his left hip in this instance. The holster seems to be for a 4" barrel MkIV or MkV Webley pistol. Note the whistle chain and the dandy way it's being worn, most MPs seem to have been a bit more discreet! I believe post-war a pistol case with an integral strap was sealed. (or of course it could LoCs catching up as they often lagged way behind)

Tocemma

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[Andy Wade]

4thGordons, on 10 October 2010 - 09:21 PM, said:

Northamptonshire Rgt. In KD jacket but with wool cap. Unknown (yellow?) triangular formation sign.

Chris

That 'triangular' formation sign. Is it possible it's actually a square divided diagonally, with half light colour and half dark? Maybe it's the cloth of the arm in shadow, but at the other side of the 'triangle' it looks much darker than the rest of the uniform.

[tocemma]

Just spent the last hour looking at the Gardin/Zanardi photos on the Independent website which was mentioned in an earlier post. Very interesting. I'm sure Dominic Zanardi won't mind me posting this image here. What is the badge on his sleeve? Not a very high res image unfortunately, but I can't make it out. It seems to be in GM, and his cap badge seems to be AOC. Any ideas? Wheelwright perhaps? Looks a bit odd somehow.

It is worth having a look at the photos though. Although there is some repetition, there are some nice details to be seen. Oilskin clothing, Macintosh Capes, 1888 pattern belts worn by RAMC men, LOTS of cut down Winter SD Caps, quite a few geometric cloth unit signs in evidence and many men without shoulder titles. It's also nice to see some of the local Somme people and how familiar the faces look. Some nice images of HLI men in khaki Balmoral bonnets too.

Tocemma

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[tocemma]

PS This chap's shirt is something. Note the two wristwatches. The dark tie and tie pin, and the spectacular haircut. His colleagues shirt is also interesting. Note the small single chest pocket. Fascinating stuff.

Probably Officers but who knows.....looks like the chap on the right has issue braces on.

Tocemma

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[4thGordons]

Andy Wade, on 10 October 2010 - 11:37 PM, said:

That 'triangular' formation sign. Is it possible it's actually a square divided diagonally, with half light colour and half dark? Maybe it's the cloth of the arm in shadow, but at the other side of the 'triangle' it looks much darker than the rest of the uniform.

Andy
I don't think so - although looking again I think it IS possible that it is a triangle divided in half with a darker colour behind.
I am pretty sure the front edge runs back towards the middle of his arm rather than running straight as a square would.
This is about as good as I can get on the area from my scan. I could dig it out and rescan if it would be helpful.
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Chris

[Andy Wade]

Thanks for that Chris, it's one of those borderline (did you see what I did there) things where the photo just doesn't quite show enough of the patch.

Didn't Grumpy run a thread earlier this year with pictures of all the battle patches? Must try to find it...

Edited to add:

It's a thread by Chris Foster of CPGW that I was thinking about. Here it is and in particular a picture of officers patches posted by Rolfi, note the top left one:

Edited by Andy Wade, 11 October 2010 - 07:58 AM.

[robins2]

4thGordons, on 10 October 2010 - 03:55 PM, said:

post='1485315']
Wrong sort of Ross! This is the 1905 with Harris magazine and leaf sight. The chap in the picture is holding an M1910 (MkIII) with a receiver sight.
Here is the MkIII
rossrightweb.jpg

thanks for the correction
\Bob R.

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