R Warwickshires TA (unknown soldier)

[Walwyk]

R Warwickshires TA

no. in corner 15108 ?

[Guest]

Could be this man.

Mike

[Terry Carter]

The soldier is an original member of the Birmingham Pals. He is wearing his navy blue uniform, service hat a red band around it and his trousers have a red welt down the seams.

15108 would be 15/108. Otherwise he is No.108 2nd Birmingham Battalion (15th Royal Warwicks). The photo was taken sometime during the first few months of 1915 when the 1st and 2nd Birmingham battalions were training at Sutton Park.

It is Pte Eric Langton Blakemore who served in A Company, No.1 Platoon. He survived the war.

Regards

Terry

[Guest]

Very good Terry. That's how to do it.

Mike

[Walwyk]

The soldier is an original member of the Birmingham Pals. He is wearing his navy blue uniform, service hat a red band around it and his trousers have a red welt down the seams.

15108 would be 15/108. Otherwise he is No.108 2nd Birmingham Battalion (15th Royal Warwicks). The photo was taken sometime during the first few months of 1915 when the 1st and 2nd Birmingham battalions were training at Sutton Park.

It is Pte Eric Langton Blakemore who served in A Company, No.1 Platoon. He survived the war.

Regards

Terry

HOW DO YOU KNOW? So much from a uniform even colour from black and white. This is happy news indeed for my lonely soldier. Thank you. Susanne

Could be this man.

Mike

Thank you. Susanne

[Terry Carter]

Hi Susanne

I wrote the book 'Birmingham Pals' and compiled a database on all the original members of the battalion. The Kitchener Blue uniform they wore was well documented in the local press. (they were given khaki uniforms around July 1915).

Cheers

Terry

[Roger H]

I wrote the book 'Birmingham Pals'

And an excellent book it is too - I recommend it to pals.

Roger

[Chris_Baker]

Terry even identified whether they were Blues or Villa supporters. As the Villa were one of the greatest teams in the world at that time, it turned out that 99.7% of the Birmingham Pals were Villa fans. The 0.3% that followed the small team from Small Heath (which no one outside Small Heath had ever heard of) all seemed to be in the sanitary section of D Company. Some things never change, eh, Terry?

[Alan Tucker]

Terry even identified whether they were Blues or Villa supporters. As the Villa were one of the greatest teams in the world at that time, it turned out that 99.7% of the Birmingham Pals were Villa fans. The 0.3% that followed the small team from Small Heath (which no one outside Small Heath had ever heard of) all seemed to be in the sanitary section of D Company. Some things never change, eh, Terry?

One of???

[Chris_Baker]

I was being generous. A passing nod to Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland.

[Alan Tucker]

While we are on this theme...

Jingle bells jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh what fun it is to see the Villa win away!

[Terry Carter]

Its about time I got involved and return some sanity to this thread. Thanks for the very kind remarks Roger. Its a happy time for Midlands football with both Birmingham teams aiming for a stab at the Champions League !!!!!

Terry

[Walwyk]

Hi Susanne

I wrote the book 'Birmingham Pals' and compiled a database on all the original members of the battalion. The Kitchener Blue uniform they wore was well documented in the local press. (they were given khaki uniforms around July 1915).

Cheers

Terry

YOU SHOULD BE THANKED FOR PUTTING YOUR INTEREST INTO A BOOK FORM FOR OTHERS TO SHARE.

THANK YOU. SUSANNE

[Walwyk]

PS. Eric Langton Blakemore 26th Nov. 1894-1969 Birmingham. A younger brother survived the war too. (from Ancestry)

Susanne