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7th battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
Started by
high wood
, Nov 13 2011 04:45 PM
9 replies to this topic
#1
high wood
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Posted 13 November 2011 - 04:45 PM
Does anyone know the significance of the broad white? stripe on the left sleeve of these soldiers of the 7th battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment. I am presuming that it relates to the 26th Division.
#2
high wood
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#3
purley
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Posted 13 November 2011 - 11:46 PM
high wood, on 13 November 2011 - 04:45 PM, said:
Does anyone know the significance of the broad white? stripe on the left sleeve of these soldiers of the 7th battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment. I am presuming that it relates to the 26th Division.
As far as I can tell they were distinguishing marks used in raids in April 1918. They were supposed to have been worn on the left forearm but these seem a bit high. They were colour coded as follows:-
Scouts - Green
Runners - Red
Signallers - Blue
Identification party - white
Members of the raiding party were to wear a white bandage held in place through right shoulder strap.
Do you know the names of the men - I would very much like to include one of the pictures in a book on the 7th that I am close to finishing - can you e-mail them to john.chapman@purley.eu - where did they come from?
regards
John
regards
John
#4
high wood
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Posted 14 November 2011 - 07:57 AM
John,
I am surprised that the white material might denote a raiding party as all the photographs were taken at the Gaelic Studios, 17 Oxford Street, Reading.
I purchased four photographs from the same source, all taken at the Gaelic Studios. One is named as Pte George Frost,and the caption reads, died of wounds, August 29th 1916. This must refer to 14314 Pte George Harold Frost,7th battalion, who lived at 16 Blake's Cottages, Reading. Another photograph of a man in a Kitchener type uniform has the message, return to Mrs J? Archer, Broadtown, Swindon, Wilts. This soldier also has the broad white stripe on his sleeve.
Archer top photograph. George Frost lower photograph.
I am surprised that the white material might denote a raiding party as all the photographs were taken at the Gaelic Studios, 17 Oxford Street, Reading.
I purchased four photographs from the same source, all taken at the Gaelic Studios. One is named as Pte George Frost,and the caption reads, died of wounds, August 29th 1916. This must refer to 14314 Pte George Harold Frost,7th battalion, who lived at 16 Blake's Cottages, Reading. Another photograph of a man in a Kitchener type uniform has the message, return to Mrs J? Archer, Broadtown, Swindon, Wilts. This soldier also has the broad white stripe on his sleeve.
Archer top photograph. George Frost lower photograph.
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#5
purley
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Posted 14 November 2011 - 10:36 AM
The picture of Frost does not have the stripe - his number was 14313 by the way
Three possibilities for Archer who does have the stripe - all survived and could have had their photo taken when they returned home.
17998 Alfred Archer of Highworth near Swindon enlisted 17/8/15 discharged 11/4/19
13264 Frederick Charles Archer enl 4/9/14 discharged 24/3/19
13046 John Owen Archer enl 3/9/14 discharged 25/2/19
It could be that the flashes were used for earlier engagements but they are not specifically mentioned in the operational orders until the raid of 29/30th April 1918 on Piton des Quartres Arbres.
regards
John
Three possibilities for Archer who does have the stripe - all survived and could have had their photo taken when they returned home.
17998 Alfred Archer of Highworth near Swindon enlisted 17/8/15 discharged 11/4/19
13264 Frederick Charles Archer enl 4/9/14 discharged 24/3/19
13046 John Owen Archer enl 3/9/14 discharged 25/2/19
It could be that the flashes were used for earlier engagements but they are not specifically mentioned in the operational orders until the raid of 29/30th April 1918 on Piton des Quartres Arbres.
regards
John
#6
munster
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Posted 14 November 2011 - 01:20 PM
Would by chance these strips be the colour coding used by home based hospitals for clasifying type of patient.john
#7
high wood
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Posted 14 November 2011 - 05:18 PM
John,
thank you for the extra information. You are right about Frost's service number, it was a typo caused by my rushing a post before going to work this morning.
Simon
thank you for the extra information. You are right about Frost's service number, it was a typo caused by my rushing a post before going to work this morning.
Simon
#8
mac
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Posted 14 November 2011 - 07:16 PM
High Wood
A couple of thoughts......We recently placed a load of 7th Battalion images on the Museum Website most of which came from the 1st COs album (Col BRAY). I have not seen any of the images with these white cloth markings displayed. I think PURLEY was thinking along the right lines but the fact that the images were taken in Reading tells me that they are either platoon or company markings, or temporary rank markers. (i.e. Acting L/Corporal etc). The last image (Bottom Left) shows the soldier in a Post Office Uniform which fits with the info that they were short of everything at that time (Maybe including lance jack stripes). Most of the images in the museum collection show them on Salisbury Plain by which time they were better equipped. Not saying that is the answer, just some thoughts from the bunker.
Cheers
MAC
A couple of thoughts......We recently placed a load of 7th Battalion images on the Museum Website most of which came from the 1st COs album (Col BRAY). I have not seen any of the images with these white cloth markings displayed. I think PURLEY was thinking along the right lines but the fact that the images were taken in Reading tells me that they are either platoon or company markings, or temporary rank markers. (i.e. Acting L/Corporal etc). The last image (Bottom Left) shows the soldier in a Post Office Uniform which fits with the info that they were short of everything at that time (Maybe including lance jack stripes). Most of the images in the museum collection show them on Salisbury Plain by which time they were better equipped. Not saying that is the answer, just some thoughts from the bunker.
Cheers
MAC
#9
purley
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Posted 14 November 2011 - 08:01 PM
I think Mac is probably nearest to the truth.
The assignment markers used in 1918 were specifically ordered to be worn on the forearm which is why I was a bit doubtful but was not aware they were taken in Reading.
I'd still like to get a copy for the book though
regards
John
The assignment markers used in 1918 were specifically ordered to be worn on the forearm which is why I was a bit doubtful but was not aware they were taken in Reading.
I'd still like to get a copy for the book though
regards
John
#10
high wood
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Posted 14 November 2011 - 08:05 PM
John,
you and the museum can have copies. If you want to use them in a book you will need to give me a mention/credit for their use. I will retake the photographs at a higher resolution as these are low resolution for the forum.
Simon
you and the museum can have copies. If you want to use them in a book you will need to give me a mention/credit for their use. I will retake the photographs at a higher resolution as these are low resolution for the forum.
Simon
