12 replies to this topic

[Suddery]

I am trying to trace which Infantry units (if indeed any ) were posted to the Orkney Islands during WW1.

I have looked at various posts on the Forum but most seem concerned with the RA batteries and I don't want to take them off topic.

Any pointers would be welcome.


Best regards

Suddery

[bill24chev]

Somwhere at home I have a book about Scappa Flow in both world wars.

If I recall c\orrectly it mentions that unlike WW1 in WW2 the navy did not have Scapa /Orkneys to themselvesof .  

I beleive in WW1 the defences were manned by RN, RM & RNAS. The only Army being the local units of the Territorial Force. I think these consisted of artillery and perhaps a Company of an Highland TF regiment possibly 4th or 5th Gordons.

[Suddery]

Thanks - would seem to make sense.

The reason I'm interested is that I've a photo attributed to Orkney that shows what could be a lighter being unloaded amidst sea and snow. Could be anywhere of a northern clime to be frank but a number of  Fusiliers of some persuasion are in the background and I thought a list of infantry posted there might help me either refute the Orkney's or count them in as a possible.  Other than sailors helping with the offload not an RM or RNAS is in sight - or RA come to that.  


Suddery

[truthergw]

If the pic was of Rosyth, that would be right in Scots Fusiliers territory and just as likely to be snowy.

[Suddery]

truthergw, on 12 March 2012 - 03:14 PM, said:

If the pic was of Rosyth, that would be right in Scots Fusiliers territory and just as likely to be snowy.

Thanks Tom for a good suggestion. I think I should apologise for not giving you enough information.

I've done my best to attach a copy of the photo but a few issues with hardware mean I've had to drop the resolution and crop more than I would have wished.

What you probably can see is that no glengarries are in evidence and what you definitely can't see is that the Fusiliers badges are small, certainly not Scot's size and more befitting of the 'Shiny' 7th Londons. Only other info is that they seem to be unloading grog or beer among the supplies as well as a new posting with kit bag who is not a Fusilier.

The service dress caps seem to have a stiff short peak which could perhaps suggest late, or early post, war or perhaps even Grenadier Guards (uniforms not my bag I'm afraid).

The reverse of the photo is marked "not for publication".

Again, thanks.

Suddery

Attached Files

•  0rk2.jpg   90.48K   1 downloads

[truthergw]

I think you can scrub Rosyth. That jetty looks a bit primitive. Matelots and brown jobs. The Navy delivering xmas cheer to the Army, so worth a photo? My best guess is that it is not tropical. Scotland or Ireland. Some outlying guard station.

[Jonathan Saunders]

My belief is that with the exception of Artillery Orkney was mostly Royal Navy and Royal Marines but not necessarily exclusively so.  However if you want to pursue the Orkney possibility, try emailing Brian Budge whose details can be found here:

http://www.rbls-kirk.../memorials.html

Regards,

Jonathan S

[Graham Stewart]

Royal Marine Artillery perhaps - they wore a grenade capbadge of a distinctive shape, when compared with those of Fusilier units.

[Suddery]

Graham Stewart, on 13 March 2012 - 03:19 PM, said:

Royal Marine Artillery perhaps - they wore a grenade capbadge of a distinctive shape, when compared with those of Fusilier units.

Graham

Now there is a suggestion that would hit the spot - grenade could well fit the RMA pattern. Really should have thought of it myself but I got hooked up on the infantry. The photo has 'Orkney' penciled on the reverse (thus my' attributed' comment in the initial posting) but I've seen many a thing scribed by a dealer in the past so I was rather sceptical. I'll almost certainly never get a conclusive i/d on this one but  a sound and logical 'possible' will suffice.


Jonathon,

Many thanks for the link, most thoughtful.

best regards both

Suddery

[bill24chev]

I have looked at the photo again. I know old monochtome pictures can be misleading but the uniforms look a bit to dark for Khaki so could they be RM blues?.
Althogh conversly they look a bit to light for navy blue.

[Suddery]

bill24chev, on 13 March 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

I have looked at the photo again. I know old monochtome pictures can be misleading but the uniforms look a bit to dark for Khaki so could they be RM blues?.
Althogh conversly they look a bit to light for navy blue.

A very good supporting point to Graham's suggestion. The original photo suggests the same.

Thanks
Suddery

[Jonathan Saunders]

bill24chev, on 13 March 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

I have looked at the photo again. I know old monochtome pictures can be misleading but the uniforms look a bit to dark for Khaki so could they be RM blues?.
Althogh conversly they look a bit to light for navy blue.

I am not so sure but happy to be proved wrong.  If they are wearing Blues wouldnt they be wearing Brodericks as well?  Horatio2 might be able to help on this point.  To me the service caps (which would be khaki) are the same colour as the uniforms.

Regards,

Jonathan S

[Suddery]

Jonathan,

I feel a 'drat' caught in my gullet !

As I've said before uniforms are definitely  not my bag but I do have the suspicion that Brodericks were worn by the RMA into 1921 - however, that's not to say service caps were not also worn. Photo could also be post 1921 although I would not back this up with any degree of confidence.

Confusing old world trying to authenticate WW1 photos but, as ever, all is in the thrill of the chase.

Thanks for a most useful contribution.

Suddery

Edit  - Just thought I ought to add that all of the shoulder titles, though not clear, are of bold initials in form and of 3 to 4 letters - i.e RMA . There are no globes or laurels visible on any shoulder.