10 replies to this topic

[Suddery]

Please find attached a detail from a postcard of PA Somerset Light Infantry Officers.

Those not pictured are wearing 1914 pattern leather webbing and to the reverse of the postcard is written "Dad... Territorial Army 1st WW". 'Dad' is neither of the officers detailed.

The officer in blues struck me as bearing a distinct likeness to a photograph of Brig Rawling that appears in the  1914-19 History of the SLI. I can find no other photos of this extraordinary Victorian exemplar and would be grateful if any forum members can provide an authenticated likeness for comparison.

This may be a little too suggestive, but the gent to his right also looks more than a little like Gen Sir Thomas D'oyly Snow (Grandfather of Jon and his broadcasting family) who was Colonel of the regiment.

Suddery

Attached Files

•  pasli.jpg   92.94K   3 downloads

[Stebie9173]

How about this one:

http://www.21stdivis...org/rawling.htm




Steve.

[Suddery]

It's certainly a likeness - many thanks Steve.

[armourersergeant]

Hello,

I dont think it is either man! Rawling did not serve in the TA and I am positive that Snow is not the man on the left. Whilst the man on the right does have some similarites to CGR I feel it is not him. Do you have any other dates of this card etc that may help establish? It would be nice to feel it is Rawling as, as you indicate, pictures are very rare of him. I have only one and in both his published books he does not appear in any of the photos.

Do you have an interest in Rawling? I am happy to swap notes etc as I have studied him in much detail and visited his grave only a week or so ago.

Regards

Arm

[Suddery]

armourersergeant, on 23 May 2012 - 06:56 AM, said:

Hello,

I dont think it is either man! Rawling did not serve in the TA and I am positive that Snow is not the man on the left. Whilst the man on the right does have some similarites to CGR I feel it is not him.
Regards
Arm

Hi Arm,

Many thanks for the contribution.

I am primarily a collector of WW1 photographs, each of which I like to research as far as I can, and that's how I came to the extraordinary CGR. He is just the sort of character that fascinates me (please refer to my current reading signature for another, Aubrey Herbert) and after this posting I'll be off, net-wide, to track down copies of his two books. I do have an interest in the PA SLI in that one of my G.Grandfathers and his brother served with them in WW1 but really that only explains why I was fortunate enough to have a copy of the 'History' to hand. i think the point about the T.A may not be quiet so crucial - you, I and enthusiasts aplenty are aware of the difference between the T.A and a Service Battalion but this is probably not the case for the vast majority. The note I am referring to was written in biro and is certainly not contemporary with the postcard. No other information is present

I've copied the photo from the 'History' (apologies to N&M press) and you should be able to juxtapose it (using 'one note' or some such) with a blow up of my photograph that  I have uploaded in the following post.

I'd be very interested in what you think.

As to General Snow, well I was being a little poetic in my proposal.

Finally, when I next go to Taunton (not that far from me) I'll be sure to look up CGR's memorial which I understand to be in St Mary Magdelene Church.

No other information to share I'm afraid, but my CGR torch is well and truly lit.

Regards

Suddery

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•  cgr.jpg   91.93K   0 downloads

[Suddery]

Full Colonel here, perhaps someone could help with medal ribands ?

I was once told "It's all in the ears" as these don't change with expression...

Suddery

Edit: Shouldn't forget stebie 9173's posting # 2

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[Stebie9173]

If you are on the trail of Cecil Rawling (good luck with his rare book, £1-£2,000 for an original!) then I would recommend "These for Remembrance" by John Buchan, who wrote this commemorative book about the friends that he had lost in the war.


Steve.

[Suddery]

Thanks Steve - between posts I've tracked down both books, free to read, on the internet archive and will be lost in one or other tonight. However, being of a certain age,I will always prefer the original artefact and the search continues  for one nearer the £1 mark to enhance the old bookshelves.

http://archive.org/s...ge/n19/mode/2up

Thanks for the Buchan nod - astonishing how often he crops up, especially to anyone interested in Anglo-Ottoman affairs. Oddly enough Aubrey Herbert, who I mentioned a post or so ago, is oft mooted as the original for Sandy Arbuthnot of Greenmantle fame et al. Stranger still he was also a Somerset M.P and may well have known Rawling, either by reputation or by person.

Thought I'd post the original postcard, though Greyscaled down and resolution reduced.

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[armourersergeant]

Ah, got me wondering now, looking at those ears! Full Colonel and still at the SLI i am unsure of though........

If someone could ID the medals as he would have ribbons re Indian frontier, Tibet and more striking the CIE. The CMG and DSO came later (DSO after his death).

It is close I will admit however in the SLI photo he looks older and yet the other photo he is younger and wearing GS cap badge (is he? i am guessing but its not SLI) which means it may have been when he was a Brigade commander and thus after the SLI one.

I would be grateful of a piccie of the plaque if you ever get down there and it reminds me I must get to the museum and see what they have. I have a photo or two of his headstone if you would care for one. Just PM me.

Regards
Arm

[Suddery]

Hi Arm

Not clear cut either way. If the chronology of the Brigadier and Colonel's uniforms were reversed I'd say it was a shoe in but I do agree, the Colonel looks older.

I having a minor op next week so will not be going to Taunton for a fortnight or so, probably three weeks. When I do I'll certainly nab a photo for you. I'll also take the postcard in case anyone there can help.

Regards

Suddery

[armourersergeant]

I would apprecaite that thank you.