Postcards

[mark holden]

23 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

Most unusual to not be wearing pioneer collar badges.  The battalions were generally very proud of that insignia that marked them out as beyond the ordinary.

I agree but as far as I recall all Monmouthshire battalions that served overseas became pioneer battalions either in 1915 or 1916

[FROGSMILE]

7 minutes ago, mark holden said:

I agree but as far as I recall all Monmouthshire battalions that served overseas became pioneer battalions either in 1915 or 1916

I wasn’t meaning to doubt your suggested identification Mark, it was just a remark that it’s unusual to see no collar badges.  They perhaps hadn’t been issued yet. 

Edited 16 February , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[Jerry B]

41 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

As a British soldier he would be on the Indian Unattached List specifically designed for specialist NCOs attached to British-Indian Army units.  The Prince of Wales’s feathers indicate the precise unit to which he is attached:

.         1803 1st company raised by Capt T Wood as Bengal Pioneers

·         1851 became Corps of Bengal Sappers and Pioneers

·         1903 became 1st Sappers and Miners

·         1906 became 1st Prince of Wales's Own Sappers and Miners

·         1910 became 1st King George V's Own Bengal Sappers and Miners

·         1923 became King George V's Own Bengal Sappers and Miners.

NB.  The all brass POW feathers below have provenance as the actual pagri badge worn by native troops of 1st KGO Sappers and Miners.

 

 

yes, here are a pair of bullion collars to the same 1st King George's sappers & miners that had been mounted on a card with that description

 

 

[FROGSMILE]

Just now, Jerry B said:

yes, here are a pair of bullion collars to the same 1st King George's sappers & miners that had been mounted on a card with that description

 

 

Thanks Jerry.  It’s interesting and quite unusual to see soldiers of the RE wear insignia out of the ordinary for their corps.

[Jerry B]

the button for the 1st KG's S&M's includes the p of w feathers

[FROGSMILE]

On 16/02/2023 at 15:03, Jerry B said:

the button for the 1st KG's S&M's includes the p of w feathers

Yes indeed, they had before the accession of 1910 been the ‘Prince of Wales’s Own’ and clearly took the appellation with pride and seriousness, not least because it added yet further to their distinction as the 1st regiment among the Sapper & Miner units within the Army.

Edited 23 February , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[Tawhiri]

I've never ventured in here before, but I found this postcard while rummaging through my mother's extensive collection of old family photos at the weekend. The handwriting on the back of the card is my mother's, but given the name she has written and both where her Platt family originated from and where the postcard was printed I suspect that this particular William Platt is the William John Platt who was born in Shettleston, Larnarkshire in 1882 and enlisted with the Canadian Engineers in Toronto on 30 March 1918. At the time he attested he was living in Batavia, New York, so crossed the border to enlist in Canada. His service record indicates that he survived the war and returned to Canada, before presumably returning to the US. Unfortunately I know nothing more about him, as I haven't really done a lot of work on tracing my mother's side of the family.

https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=580050

 

Edited 20 February , 2023 by Tawhiri

[poona guard]

Definitely Canadian forces but no distiguishing badges to say what unit he was in. You are lucky to have an extensive old family photo collection.

[mrfrank]

Another c.1907 image of a young East Yorkshire Regiment recruit, Pte Michael Melody 8457.

Joined the 1st Bn in Fyzabad March 1909.

MIC - Entered F&F 15th January 1915. Family from York. 

Died of wounds 30th April 1918 aged 31 and buried at Esquelbecq Military Cemetery. 
Personal inscription- ‘Too dearly loved to be forgotten R.I.P’

[FROGSMILE]

12 hours ago, mrfrank said:

Another c.1907 image of a young East Yorkshire Regiment recruit, Pte Michael Melody 8457.

Joined the 1st Bn in Fyzabad March 1909.

MIC - Entered F&F 15th January 1915. Family from York. 

Died of wounds 30th April 1918 aged 31 and buried at Esquelbecq Military Cemetery. 
Personal inscription- ‘Too dearly loved to be forgotten R.I.P’

Another one of those unfortunates who on such long odds fought and survived through the war from its very beginning only to be KIA during the German’s Spring Offensive.  I always feel particularly sad about these men, regardless of the cause that they were fighting for.

You can just make out the edges of the woven worsted unit title (white letters on red backing) - E.YORK - on the upper arms of his jacket. 

Edited 22 February , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[poona guard]

What is on the reverse of the card? Photo taken when he was with the 2nd battalion before shipping out to the 1st in India.

[mrfrank]

Just now, poona guard said:

What is on the reverse of the card? Photo taken when he was with the 2nd battalion before shipping out to the 1st in India.

Postally unused so nothing to reverse. This was one of a number I bought probably from a collection that was being broken up by the seller. They all appear to have been taken at the Regimental Depot Beverley, largely feature new recruits and date to 1907. 

[poona guard]

I thought it would be at beverley. Who is the photographer. I went to school near the barracks and collect EYR photos.

[mrfrank]

3 hours ago, poona guard said:

I thought it would be at beverley. Who is the photographer. I went to school near the barracks and collect EYR photos.

Unfortunately, none of the cards have any reference to the photographer.

[mrfrank]

Another East Yorkshire image taken at Beverley. This card was postally used the first week of March 1907 and the sender identifies ‘CS McReynolds in the centre’ of what appears to possibly be a squad of recruits.

This is John Bernard McReynolds 3766 and judging by numerous references online and in ‘The Snapper’ he was a long-serving soldier, sportsman and quite an all round character in the regiment and at the time of this image he was on the permanent staff of the 3rd Battalion having returned from India. 

Rejoined in 1914 and RSM with the 11th Battalion (Hull Pals). MiC date of entry Egypt 23Dec15. Served as Hon LT & QM with the 11th Bn from Oct15 until his death on 12Nov16 when he was killed by a stray shell at Hebuterne. Buried Couin Military Cemetery.

He was described as being ‘the outstanding personality of the battalion (11th) in its first two years of existence’. 

 

[FROGSMILE]

16 minutes ago, mrfrank said:

Another East Yorkshire image taken at Beverley. This card was postally used the first week of March 1907 and the sender identifies ‘CS McReynolds in the centre’ of what appears to possibly be a squad of recruits.

This is John Bernard McReynolds 3766 and judging by numerous references online and in ‘The Snapper’ he was a long-serving soldier, sportsman and quite an all round character in the regiment and at the time of this image he was on the permanent staff of the 3rd Battalion having returned from India. 

Rejoined in 1914 and RSM with the 11th Battalion (Hull Pals). MiC date of entry Egypt 23Dec15. Served as Hon LT & QM with the 11th Bn from Oct15 until his death on 12Nov16 when he was killed by a stray shell at Hebuterne. Buried Couin Military Cemetery.

He was described as being ‘the outstanding personality of the battalion (11th) in its first two years of existence’. 

 

It’s interesting that Colour Sergeant McReynolds was clearly a qualified assistant instructor in physical training (APTI) and wears his qualification badge correctly for a CSgt on his lower right arm.  As a marksman too he wears that badge in the usual lower left arm position.  He’s a big fellow who looks the part and one can imagine his reputation came before him wherever he went.

 

Edited 22 February , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[poona guard]

Cracking photo. When did he finish his engagement?

[mrfrank]

Apparently he was was discharged to pension sometime in 1912 after having finished his time as RSM of the 5th Yorkshire Regiment in Scarborough. He enlisted with the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1887 aged 16 after both parents had died. 

Edited 23 February , 2023 by mrfrank

[poona guard]

Did well for himself.

[Raster Scanning]

British Cavalry hold an armistice parade in the market square at Phillipeville, Belgium in November 1918. I believe the town was under German occupation for the entire war. A PC in my collection.

Edited 26 February , 2023 by Raster Scanning

[poona guard]

Excellent photo. Shame you can't see their badges.

[Raster Scanning]

9 hours ago, poona guard said:

Excellent photo. Shame you can't see their badges.

I am not home at the moment as I work abroad. However I think they are identified further on the back. I will check when I get home in a few weeks.

[GWF1967]

King's Royal Rifle Corps Band.

Royal Artillery Band.

[FROGSMILE]

9 hours ago, GWF1967 said:

King's Royal Rifle Corps Band.

Royal Artillery Band.

The Adjutant, Bandmaster and RSM are seated together centrally in the rifles photo.  Notice their special cord boss badges.  Can you read what the scrolls on the base drum say on the original photo?  As with many military bands during WW1 there are a few noticeably mature men in their ranks.

Edited 28 February , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[GWF1967]

9 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

The Adjutant, Bandmaster and RSM are seated together centrally in the rifles photo.  Notice their special cord boss badges.  Can you read what the scrolls on the base drum say on the original photo?  As with many military bands during WW1 there are a few noticeably mature men in their ranks.

It looks like "10th Batt. King's Royal Rifle Corps"