johnnie Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 I thought I would post this image and see if anybody might be able to tell me a little more. As can be seen from the photo below it shows a rather mixed group of men with a few in uniform in the rear, while the rest seem to be dressed in a rather odd mis of outfits (a cross between boy scouts and farm hands). There even appears to be what looks like a lady in the middle. I was posted, and ond has the Stockton on Tees franking mark on the rear dated April 1916, and the following message: Dear Will, Just a card to let you know I have sent the dot off Yours, F E Murdo It has been addressed to: Dvr W R Buckle No. 161389 ASC 1st Auxiliary Horse Transport Detachment BEF Rouen France 1st Auxiliary has been crossed out in purple, and in the same purple the top has been marked Harve BHTD 5/5/16 I have found the MIC for the man it was sent to (Driver William R Buckle, 161389, ASC) and it seems he later served with the Northumberland Fusiliers with the number 55679. I was wondering if anybody might be able to suggest who the group are (I know it's a very long shot), where it was taken, or why they are all gressed in such differing outfits. Any help would be great. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Jonathan There all look as if they have some form of Riding Boot. Is it signed F E Murdo ? or F E at Murdo, as Murdo is in South Dakota in the USA, and could these chaps all be some form of Cowboy? [Wild shot ]. Horse Transport Detachment picking some Horse's up in Dakota ? Any chance of some close ups? Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 11 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Thanks for the reply. I'm quite sure it's a name rather than a place, and the post mark would certainly suggest it was posted from this country (Stockton on Tees). The ruined building in the back would also suggest it was taken in the UK, or Europe at least. I have added a few clos ups of the image to see if that helps. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 11 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Two more close ups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 11 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 11 June , 2009 And another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Jonathan any chance of a look at the back of the card? If it was posted April 1916, the picture must have been take sometime prior to this, and with these chaps in they shirt sleeve's, and large Hat's, you would start thinking Summer 1915. As for the Surname Murdo, nothing showing up in Stockton in the 1901 census [nothing showing up in England], in the 1891 census we have a Margaret living in Stockton, born in Thornley, County Durham. Lots of Lapel badges on the one chap, what do all there relate to? Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 11 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Hi. Here is the back of the card with a close up of the naming. The site in the back looks like a ruin to me, but I can't think of anywhere in the Stockton area with a similar ruin. I had wondered if the badges might be temperance badges, but I'm not sure. If not, and we are to assume they are linked to horses/livestock, could he be a seller as I've seen sellers/dealers at modern day livestock auctions wearing lots of badges. Jonathan And here is the name. Could it be McMurdo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islesman Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Hi, I'd guess that the photo was taken a long way from Stockton. I think it could be from a Latin country possibly even as far as Aregentina but perhaps in Europe. It might be useful to see a close-up of the soldier 2nd from the left. His uniform and holster might give out some more clues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 F E McMurdo in my reckoning Don't understand 'dot'. Could it be 'lot'? cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 11 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Here you go. I don't think he is wearing a holster (I think the shadow might just look like a holster). Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 The men in uniform in the picture all appear to be wearing the distinctive uniform of the early Volunteer Training Corps (essentially the Home Guard of WW1), before they were issued the same SD as ordinary soldiers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 McMurdo of Stockton living at 27Howden St. 1901 Census. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apwright Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Frances Elizabeth McMURDO was William Redfern BUCKLE's maternal grandmother! Frances Elizabeth HALLIMOND (b Sedgefield, Durham c.1851) married John McMURDO in Easington district Q4 1871. A daughter Agnes Jane was born in Thornley in Q1 1875. In Q2 1893, Agnes Jane McMURDO married Joseph Hall BUCKLE in Stockton district. A son William Redfern BUCKLE was born in Stockton in Q4 1894. In 1901, the BUCKLEs were living at Crawcrook Gate, Crawcrook, Durham. Frances McMURDO is now a widow living at 9 Atkinson Ave, Stockton-on-Tees. She died in Stockton in 1923 aged 73. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted 11 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Thank you ever so much for that. It is so nice to be able to put some background information to the card. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Stewart Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Agree with Andrew that the uniformed lads are Stockton VTC. Dotted up and down the country were loads of ASC Depots, some which were used for the storage of hay, which was then either passed on to the home army or BEF. This photo could possibly have been taken at harvest time hence the unusual dress among the rest of the group, but the girl looks as though she's some form of "Land Army". Bloke in the tweeds could possibly be the farmer himself or overseer of the operation with assistance from the VTC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high wood Posted 13 June , 2009 Share Posted 13 June , 2009 Don't understand 'dot'. Could it be 'lot'? I have sent the loot off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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