archangel9 Posted 24 July , 2009 Share Posted 24 July , 2009 Hi, Anything you can tell me about this mans regiment and anything else about the uniform/rifle, etc. greatly appreciated. The photo was taken at "Avondale"[house name], the address looks like "Coleswood Road, Harpenden". Taken "during early 1915". Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 24 July , 2009 Share Posted 24 July , 2009 John, first glance I'd say 12th Londons (The Rangers) and looks like he could have done with a larger tunic. Weapons are not my thing, but is that a long Lee Enfield? cheers, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john gregory Posted 24 July , 2009 Share Posted 24 July , 2009 100% Notts and Derby, Territorial, either 5th, 6th,or 8th Battalion, with Long Lee rifle wearing 02 pattern webbing. If the photo was taken at Harpenden, that is where the battalions were training prior to going overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 25 July , 2009 Share Posted 25 July , 2009 I agree with John - the scroll ends on the badge are not long enough for the Rangers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thorne Posted 25 July , 2009 Share Posted 25 July , 2009 Yes, except that it's Bandolier Equipment, Infantry Pattern 1903. Belt, two Mk. II 15-round pouches, and a 50-round (probably, can't really tell for sure) bandolier. With the Long Lee, quite typical for a Territorial in 1915. It's worth noting, too, that the rifle is in fact a CLLE - Charger Loading Lee Enfield - as can be seen by the front sight guard. Not as common as the Magazine Lee Enfield Mk. I or I*, or the Lee Metford Mk. II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted 25 July , 2009 Share Posted 25 July , 2009 Oddly enough another photo has appeared today, same Regt, and long Lee Enfield. Trio being split. Redirect to e-bay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 2 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 2 August , 2009 Thanks everyone for the information. On the back of the postcard is written - "'Bobbo' - and five others billeted with us at 'Avondale' Coleswood Rd., Harpenden during early 1915" Now to find out who Bobbo is Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebriggs Posted 5 August , 2009 Share Posted 5 August , 2009 I know that some men of the 6th Battn Notts and Derby were billeted at 'Airedale' on Douglas Road, Harpenden in late 1914 early 1915. Only about 2km away. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archangel9 Posted 15 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 15 August , 2009 I know that some men of the 6th Battn Notts and Derby were billeted at 'Airedale' on Douglas Road, Harpenden in late 1914 early 1915. Only about 2km away. Mike Thanks Mike. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 16 August , 2009 Share Posted 16 August , 2009 I agree with John - the scroll ends on the badge are not long enough for the Rangers. My first reaction was The Rangers (12th Londons) also, but the Rangers scroll had a double "ripple" rather than being a smooth curve as appears here. It would also have been blackened and we'd also expect blackened buttons. The central boss also appears to be too large. I think we can rule out The Rangers. Was the Notts & Derbys territorial badge different from the regular Sherwood Foresters badge? The maltese cross on the Foresters badges I've seen is quite a lot "slighter" than the KRRC-based badges with the points appearing sharper. The only Notts & Derbys terrier badge I'm familiar with is the Robin Hood Rifles, which is based on the Rifle Brigade badge and is definitely not the one in this photo. The other evidence all seems strong for another Notts & Derbys territorial unit though. Presumably the bandoliers, ill-fitting tunic and unusual rifle reflect the equipment shortages experienced by units still in training in England during 1915? Or could he be part of the transport column? Cheers, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Larksfield Posted 17 March , 2013 Share Posted 17 March , 2013 John, We have just come across your post on this site, from 2009, showing a photo of "Bobbo". This is intriguing, because my grandparents lived at "Avondale", Coleswood Road, Harpenden around that time. They were Mr H S Gray and Mrs A Gray. The 1911 census shows their address as Avondale, but we have some correspondence showing that they had moved to 6 Coleswood Road by 1917, so it's possible they had moved from Avondale by 1915. If they were still there in 1915, perhaps my grandparents could have been the "us", with whom the 6 soldiers were billeted. We have a couple of photos of soldiers sent to my grandfather during the war, but we know nothing about who sent them, when or why. One photograph is of a group of seven men with cap badges that are different to the one in your photo, and four of them have what appear to be red cross badges on their arms. The picture was sent by a George Ewart Morrey from Market Drayton, Salop. Perhaps this could be one of the others billeted at Avondale. One of the group has some resemblance to "Bobbo", but it's difficult to be sure. Does any of this strike a chord with you? Glenda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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