MBrockway Posted 4 March , 2012 Share Posted 4 March , 2012 Pals, I recently acquired this great picture of a group of KRRC and RB men. I justified it to myself because of the great range of wound stripes, good conduct chevrons, overseas service chevrons, rifles vs. GS buttons and cloth shoulder titles ... but really it was the young chap holding the kitten that did it for me! There's a date on the back in pencil of 04 Aug 1915, but that's clearly not the date of the photo as there are overseas service chevrons worn. What's the general feeling on a date for this picture Pals? The chap with the KRRC unit medal (4th from left of the men sitting on the bench) has three overseas chevrons. Also what are the light coloured slip-on cloth shoulder titles being worn by three of the men? I wondered if this is a group recovering from wounds at hospital or a Base Depot perhaps? Or (shooting from hip here) ORs training as officer cadets? The RB rifleman 4th from left in the back row has a medal ribbon up - looks like an MM, but it's partly hidden unfortunately. There are six LSGC chevrons showing and most of the men have at least one wound stripe. The KRR man kneeling at right hand side has three. These chaps must have seen some action! Whatever - it's a great picture and I'm sure you'll all enjoy it Incidentally I'm 90% sure this is a KRRC/RB group as I can just about make out blackened "KRR" shoulder titles on the chap immediately bhind the chap holding the kitten. That aside, this could be a mix of London Regiment rifle battalion men. Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 5 March , 2012 Share Posted 5 March , 2012 ... but really it was the young chap holding the kitten that did it for me! There's a date on the back in pencil of 04 Aug 1915, but that's clearly not the date of the photo as there are overseas service chevrons worn. What's the general feeling on a date for this picture Pals? Chap with the kitten looks like he's about to do it harm! Overseas Service Chevrons put this no earlier than 1918, lack of visible medal ribbands up for WW1 service (despite the chevrons) would tend to suggest before 1919/1920, so would suggest early/mid 1918 as a strong contender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh Mc Posted 5 March , 2012 Share Posted 5 March , 2012 Great picture and I agree with Andrew as to the date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 5 March , 2012 Share Posted 5 March , 2012 are you sure it says 1915 and not 1918? cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 5 March , 2012 Share Posted 5 March , 2012 Super photograph, and like all good ones, it raises a few questions. Here is another. Given that overseas service chevrons have been issued, why have some men with wound badges not got overseas chevrons? There must be some significance in the fact that all these men are Rifles. My suggestion is mid 1918, and a Divisional or Corps school of some sort ...... these were often used as an informal jolly for deserving and weary men. The three shoulder slip-ons could be various functional ones; battalion runner, scout, orderly ..... various colours were used. Super photo anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 5 March , 2012 Share Posted 5 March , 2012 Grumpy if the man had been wounded in Ireland or in training in UK i presume he would be entitled a wound stripe but not the overseas chevron and was there also a specified minimum period overseas before entitlement to chevron if wounded before the time = wound stripe and again no overseas chevron.john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 5 March , 2012 Share Posted 5 March , 2012 Grumpy if the man had been wounded in Ireland or in training in UK i presume he would be entitled a wound stripe but not the overseas chevron and was there also a specified minimum period overseas before entitlement to chevron if wounded before the time = wound stripe and again no overseas chevron.john The Army Order re. wound badges specifies enemy action, which rules out at home, rules out Ireland I believe [no war declared], and rules out an accident on British barbed wire but not, seemingly, "enemy" barbs ....... a nice distinction in the dark. A soldier could be wounded on first day in theatre [unlikely but possible, bombs, long range arty for example] and would certainly get the badge. One for each occasion, not wound. Gas included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 5 March , 2012 Author Share Posted 5 March , 2012 are you sure it says 1915 and not 1918? cheers Martin B You decide ... Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 5 March , 2012 Share Posted 5 March , 2012 Given that overseas service chevrons have been issued, why have some men with wound badges not got overseas chevrons? It's not very clear in some cases but I'm pretty certain that most, if not all, of those with wound stripes visble (and the right arm not obscured) do have the chevrons up as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 5 March , 2012 Author Share Posted 5 March , 2012 It's not very clear in some cases but I'm pretty certain that most, if not all, of those with wound stripes visble (and the right arm not obscured) do have the chevrons up as well. I think you're right Andrew - looking at the original, all those with visible wound stripes who have the relevant area of their right sleeve also visible, all have overseas chevrons. I think the two chaps at the left ends of each row have their arms turned outwards just enough to obscure the spot where the overseas chevrons would be. Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 5 March , 2012 Author Share Posted 5 March , 2012 Here's a detail of the possible MM ribbon ... Not much to go on, but an MM is the most likely candidate I'd say. Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 6 March , 2012 Share Posted 6 March , 2012 Yes I am happy to concede to the man who can see the original. Here is another point of interest: Boots, condition of. We have: at least one pair almost bulled, in the back row one polished pair, on the smartest chap in the group. two decently clean pairs by the standards of 14-18 a goodly number that suggest Somme mud. Sherlock H. might deduce that they had not been together for long? Perhaps pushing my luck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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