I live in Guernsey, Channel Islands and have been researching my family tree for some time. I have spent quite a while on two of my first cousins, one (Alphonse Dumond) killed on 13th October 1914 at Cuinchy and the other (George Dumond) lost aboard HMS Ghurka in 1917. I have been having more trouble with researching the actual service of my great-grandfather Sidney Roger West, mainly because he was a regular soldier before the Great War and his service records are not available online, presumably amongst the 60% burned. He was certainly in the 16th Lancers in 1911 because the census records show him resident at their barracks, then a lance corporal. One thing I do have though is an unusual photograph of him in 1914 with a mustered group of what must be soldiers passing out from the Royal Military College. My great grandfather was a sergeant in the 16th Lancers at this time and obviously seconded to RMC for training new officer cadets. He later went to France, his medal record shows this as being 8th December 1915. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the Wiltshire Regiment but its not clear when this happened so I don't know whether he fought with the Wiltshires or the 16th Lancers.

I have never seen the equivalent of this detailed photograph in many hours of looking at the various records available. The photograph contains the name, regiment and rank (if applicable) of all present. They include a number of notable prominent individuals, including Oswald Mosley, later to become leader of the British fascist movement. Also included are the Hon B Ogilvy, Lord Killeen and Viscount Weymouth. I am hoping that by transcribing the names and giving something to the forum I might in turn learn something more about my great grandfather's service, and those he served with. Although I never met him this photograph sat above the settee in my grandfather's lounge for at least the last 50 years so I have looked at it very regularly since I was very young and wondered at the stories of the men pictured in it. All enquiries welcome. My great grandfather is standing extreme right of the picture.

The full list of those in this photograph is as follows:

K Company, RMC September 1914

Back Row – L to Right

T.S. Dr A. Hankey

F.J. Bridges

J.V. Isham

J.B.P. Fitzgerald

W.G.N.H Dalrymple

J.H.M White

D.P. Cox

W.J. Balfour

W.H. Cubitt

F. Egerton

Viscount Weymouth

R.O. Arkwright

E.G. Pease

P.V. Harris

R.D Busk

Sir A.D. Bagot, Bt

W.D. Daly

Second From Back Row, L to Right

R.F. Heyworth-Savage

Hon. J.H.P. Verner

M.H. Birch-Reynardson

D.H. Gough

S.H. Le Roy Lewis

C.N.F. Browne

C.W. Allen

K.F.S. West

C.B. Scott

W.P. Wright

R.H.E. Abdy

D.J.E. Norton

F.F. Smith

A.C. Wilson

O.E. Mosley

Third from Back Row L to Right

Sergt C. Waters (18^th Hussars)

Hon. B.A.A. Ogilvy

S.B. Horn

B.A. Carver

J.G.H Somervell

H.O. Oxley

A.B.P.L. Vincent

J.S.M. Wardell

W.S.C. Crawshay

J.A.B. Lane

G.C.P. Paul

Hon. W.M. Stourton

D.H. Adair

H.C. Daniel

L.P.G. Kelly

R.A.W. Knight

A.S.C. Browne

H.F. Bowles

R.C.M. Shelton

J.M.Stubbs

Sergt. C.H. Ullathorne (19^th Hussars)

Fourth From back Row L to Right

Sergt. D.B. Higgins (21^st Lancers)

P.F.J. Kent

J.E. Bovill

J.E.M. Bradish-Ellames

J.H. Sykes

L.J.G. Souchon

M.S. Osborne

A.C.B Freeman

Hon. C.J.F. Winn

Hon. W.W. Montagu-Douglas-Scott

Lord Killeen

S.I. Fairbairn

A.R. Cooper

K.V. Edwards

A.B. Smith

R.A. Scott

D.M. Stanley

Sergt. E.H. Biddle (Scots Gds.)

Sergt. R.J.B. Richards (16^th Lancers)

Sergt. S.R. West (16^th Lancers)

Fifth Row From Back L to Right

Staff Sergt. J. Smith (Scots Guards)

W.W. Hayes

A.C. Mackintyre

P.R.Astley

Capt. W.P.H. Hill (Royal Fusilliers)

Hon. H.H. Douglas-Pennant

(Fifth Row from back, continued)

Capt. J.T.T.W. Feinnes (R.W. Kent Regt.)

Under Officer L.F. Marson

Major C.N. French (Hampshire Regt.)

D.F.G. Duff

Major W.S. Sykes (3^rd Dragoon Gds.)

W.G. Gisborne

Capt. E.L. Lyon (18^th Hussars)

R.B. Helme

Capt. R.R. de C. Grubb (3^rd Hussars)

R.G. Morrison

G.E. Younghusband

F.W. Pink

S.S. Major R.R.H.W.L. Carter (2^nd Dragoon Guards)

Front Row, L to Right

J.S. Fernie

J.H. Hirsch

A.B. Johns

P.G. Carr

G. Crerar-Gilbert

C.D.S. Mackirdy

L.F.C. St. Clair

T.G. Watson

M.J. Clery

J.O.P. Clarkson

Photograph by Clarke & Co, Camberley