FROGSMILE Posted 26 May , 2018 Share Posted 26 May , 2018 (edited) Superb picture of the RE full dress for a QMS, showing the gold lace and shoulder knot of his ‘first class’ (of three levels of quality) uniform very well. A very similar shoulder knot was worn as the only distinguishing mark (i.e. no badge of rank) by the Army Schoolmasters. Edited 26 May , 2018 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew-1918 Posted 26 May , 2018 Share Posted 26 May , 2018 20 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: Yes he was, it was unusual, but done because he had been selected for both a commission and the Army SM job simultaneously. He was persuaded to take the latter job with a guaranteed commission at the end of his tour, backdated so that he would not be penalised by losing 2-years seniority to other WOs who took a commission on the same date. Well I never! Many thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 26 May , 2018 Share Posted 26 May , 2018 I am reasonably sure that this is a Bandmaster RE. There is a signature on the back which I have not been able to decipher. Can anyone help please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 26 May , 2018 Share Posted 26 May , 2018 (edited) Can’t quite read the surname, Terry. What makes you think he is a Bandmaster, a Warrant Officers appointment? The frock coat that he wears was a standard undress uniform for officers between 1902 and the outbreak of war in 1914. The RE had a staff band similar to that of the RA and they were led by Directors of Music, who were commissioned officers. I can’t make out whether he has two rank stars on his shoulder straps, or a crown and star. His maturity suggests the latter. Edited 26 May , 2018 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 26 May , 2018 Share Posted 26 May , 2018 (edited) Frogsmile My mistake, I agree, he appears to be commissioned. I think he might be wearing two stars though. I am not aware of a Lt Col being a Director of Music RE pre-war. Something to ponder on I guess. TR Edited 26 May , 2018 by Terry_Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 26 May , 2018 Share Posted 26 May , 2018 Do you have a date for this man Terry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 26 May , 2018 Share Posted 26 May , 2018 Mark, there is a postmark that looks like (19) 06 and posted to a Mr Mason in Ilkey, Yorks. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 26 May , 2018 Share Posted 26 May , 2018 2 hours ago, Terry_Reeves said: Frogsmile My mistake, I agree, he appears to be commissioned. I think he might be wearing two stars though. I am not aware of a Lt Col being a Director of Music RE pre-war. Something to ponder on I guess. TR Assuming that the photo was taken between 1902 and 1914 there is nothing about the officer’s dress to suggest that he is a director of music, Terry. Associating the frock coat with just musical appointments is a modern bias. It was a standard item of in-barracks undress uniform for officers pre-War. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew-1918 Posted 26 May , 2018 Share Posted 26 May , 2018 (edited) My best guess for the name is G. H. Unwin. It is a slightly ‘sloppy’ way to finish the surname, but look how he writes “to”. Chris Edited 26 May , 2018 by Drew-1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Brannen Posted 27 May , 2018 Share Posted 27 May , 2018 (edited) 8 hours ago, Terry_Reeves said: Mark, there is a postmark that looks like (19) 06 and posted to a Mr Mason in Ilkey, Yorks. TR Can you post this, as more handwriting may help deciphering the last name 6 hours ago, Drew-1918 said: My best guess for the name is G. H. Unwin. It is a slightly ‘sloppy’ way to finish the surname, but look how he writes “to”. Chris I think it is E.H. (the first letter being different than the G in Greetings). Think you are correct that the first letter of the last name might be U, but, to me the very last letter looks similar to the end g in in Greetings, or the y in you! Or, as you say, a sloppy way to finish the name! Edited 27 May , 2018 by Keith Brannen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 27 May , 2018 Share Posted 27 May , 2018 Thanks folks, I will check out the suggestions. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 27 May , 2018 Share Posted 27 May , 2018 ... and I was after the date to check the Army List :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 27 May , 2018 Share Posted 27 May , 2018 Thanks Mark. I have checked Hart's 1908 list, there is no Unwin that matches the criteria nor is there any Unwin in the RE in the November 1918 Army List that matches either. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 27 May , 2018 Share Posted 27 May , 2018 25 minutes ago, MBrockway said: ... and I was after the date to check the Army List :-) I've eyeballed the 1906 Annual Army List looking for RE officers with initials "G.H." or forenames equating to same. No outstanding candidate for a match to this signature in either Regulars or Militia. The closest was a Captain G. H. WILLIS, stationed at Simla, commissioned 03 Aug 1895, Lt: 03 Aug 1898; Capt: 03 Aug 1904; but the signature is not a strong match IMHO. It was a bit of a strain on the eyes and I can't be 100% confident I got them all, so other Pals might care to repeat the experiment. To me, the surname appears to begin with U, V or W and end with G, Y or possibly R. If there's any more of this hand you can show us, that might help work out his manuscript style. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 27 May , 2018 Share Posted 27 May , 2018 21 minutes ago, MBrockway said: I've eyeballed the 1906 Annual Army List looking for RE officers with initials "G.H." or forenames equating to same. No outstanding candidate for a match to this signature in either Regulars or Militia. The closest was a Captain G. H. WILLIS, stationed at Simla, commissioned 03 Aug 1895, Lt: 03 Aug 1898; Capt: 03 Aug 1904; but the signature is not a strong match IMHO. It was a bit of a strain on the eyes and I can't be 100% confident I got them all, so other Pals might care to repeat the experiment. To me, the surname appears to begin with U, V or W and end with G, Y or possibly R. If there's any more of this hand you can show us, that might help work out his manuscript style. Mark Mark, as requested: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 27 May , 2018 Share Posted 27 May , 2018 Well for me that definitely confirms the initials as "G. H." - his standalone letter G without a letter immediately following is shown in "The Grove" and that's a strong match for the first iniitial. The G in "Greetings" differs only because his hand has flowed on into forming the R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 27 May , 2018 Share Posted 27 May , 2018 I agree with G H. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 27 May , 2018 Share Posted 27 May , 2018 Agree with initials G.H.; looking at the signature, and then "Ilkley", I think the final letter could be a Y. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Black Posted 28 May , 2018 Share Posted 28 May , 2018 G.H. Vray perhaps? The r looks similar to that in "from" and the a from "seasons". Derek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 29 May , 2018 Share Posted 29 May , 2018 "The Red Cross Section, 134 Co. M.T. A.S.C." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueW Posted 30 May , 2018 Share Posted 30 May , 2018 G.H.Wray? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 30 May , 2018 Share Posted 30 May , 2018 2 hours ago, SueW said: G.H.Wray? I thought that too, but no sign of a G.H. Wray in the Army LIsts 1906-1908 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph2000 Posted 2 June , 2018 Share Posted 2 June , 2018 I picked up this postcard in a junk shop, but can't identify which regiment. Any ideas, please? Zoomed in on cap badge: Do I make out the word 'Boxing' on the plaque? All the best Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 2 June , 2018 Share Posted 2 June , 2018 KOYLI? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark holden Posted 2 June , 2018 Share Posted 2 June , 2018 KOYLI post WW1. I would hazard 1930s given the absence of Great War ribbons on the NCOs and soldiers. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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