gunnerwalker Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February 13 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said: Is that ironic humour? I wonder if ‘The Royal Oak’ still stands today. It does indeed, at 80 Broad Street. Still under the same name too. It’s only a few miles from me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February (edited) 59 minutes ago, gunnerwalker said: It does indeed, at 80 Broad Street. Still under the same name too. It’s only a few miles from me. So it is! Next time you’re there for a pint, drink a toast to the ASC Boys of ‘The Pride of Sodbury’. Edited 25 February by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnerwalker Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February 9 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said: So it is! Next time you’re there for a pint, drink a toast to the ASC Boys of ‘The Pride of Sodbury’. There are a few photos about of the 494th M.T. Coy in Chipping Sodbury of which several pubs along that street appear in the background and are still there today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February T - R.F.A. London. Photograph by S. Alder, Liverpool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February Gnr. Robert Allen Watson. 206865. "Detail, 2nd "B". Base Depot, Mesopotamia, E.E.F" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February (edited) 35 minutes ago, GWF1967 said: T - R.F.A. London. Photograph by S. Alder, Liverpool. Quite unusual at that stage to see a gunner seated centrally wearing the ORs field service cap in dark blue and red. You can just about make out the universal grenade being worn as cap insignia. Edited 25 February by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 25 February Share Posted 25 February 3 minutes ago, GWF1967 said: Gnr. Robert Allen Watson. 206865. "Detail, 2nd "B". Base Depot, Mesopotamia, E.E.F" It doesn’t seem the natural place to part his hair and gives him a rather odd look. I wonder if it was all the fashion, it almost looks like a bullet has cleared a path across the top of his head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 26 February Share Posted 26 February Not that uncommon a parting - I've noticed something similar in other photos of the early 20th century, including those of film stars. His hairline is receding on the right side of his head, so he's moved his parting to cover it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 26 February Share Posted 26 February 5 minutes ago, Moonraker said: Not that uncommon a parting - I've noticed something similar in other photos of the early 20th century, including those of film stars. His hairline is receding on the right side of his head, so he's moved his parting to cover it up. Yes I realised that it was a period fashion. Just looks odd to modern eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poona guard Posted 26 February Share Posted 26 February When were the T/RFA/London around the Liverpool area? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 26 February Share Posted 26 February 3 hours ago, poona guard said: When were the T/RFA/London around the Liverpool area? The photographer was based in Liverpool, he may have travelled some distance to a camp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 26 February Share Posted 26 February Card sent by - Air Mechanic I. Frederick Thomas Doe. 221437 R.A.F. Enlisted - R.N.A.S. 30/9/1916. 147 Cherry Hinton Rd. Cambridge. Nov. 6th 1918. "Dear Frank, This is the long range gun (Big Bertha) that was shelling Paris some time back. Also of the German Crew. The photograph was found on the crew. Don't work too hard. War will soon be over." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 26 February Share Posted 26 February (edited) Sgt. Walter Reaney Hutchinson. 10029. Machine Gun Corps. Formerly Sgt. 21813. Cheshire Regiment. Rank stripes on overcoat - one for @Muerrisch Edited 26 February by GWF1967 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 26 February Share Posted 26 February (edited) Thank you. They look to be the large version to my prejudiced eye. He is a trifle noncomformist round the neck. Edited 26 February by Muerrisch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 26 February Share Posted 26 February (edited) 30 minutes ago, Muerrisch said: Thank you. They look to be the large version to my prejudiced eye. He is a trifle noncomformist round the neck. Yes I think you’re right, the angle of view makes it apparent that they’re wider even though the differential was small as you pointed out. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a clear view of the full spread as it were. Unfortunately I can’t quite make out what the emblem is on his red hospital blue uniform necktie. He seems to have a red (?) carnation on the near side collar of his greatcoat. Edited 26 February by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardenerbill Posted 27 February Share Posted 27 February 10 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: necktie Could it be an SWB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 February Share Posted 27 February Just now, Gardenerbill said: Could it be an SWB? Yes it’s certainly the right shape and size isn’t it. I didn’t think they were applied for until after discharge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poona guard Posted 27 February Share Posted 27 February 16 hours ago, GWF1967 said: The photographer was based in Liverpool, he may have travelled some distance to a camp. All the way to the southeast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 27 February Share Posted 27 February 5 hours ago, Gardenerbill said: Could it be an SWB? My thought as well. I’ll have a look with a loupe later. 8 minutes ago, poona guard said: All the way to the southeast? Perhaps not as far as London, but I have other cards where photographers seem to have traveled quite some distance to camps on Salisbury Plain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 27 February Share Posted 27 February W.N. Evans. 26th January 1917. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Stuart. - Photographer. 47-49 Brompton Rd. & 159 High Rd. Balham. "Old Bill" - R.W.F. Family group. Both brothers wear R.W.F. shoulder titles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 27 February Share Posted 27 February Draft - 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Lt. Colonel - Howell Richard Jones-Williams. Captain & Adjutant Codrington Howard Rees Crawshay. & Y.M.C.A Staff. Postcard sent 30/4/1915 to - Mrs. Lilian Gregson-Ellis, Ystrad Isaf, Denbigh. " The Barracks, Wrexham. 30. IV. 15. Yes Please. It would be most useful if you would send the pants. I have none at all to send. C. Crawshay. Capt. Ajt. 3 RWF" Ystrad Isaf was a Red Cross Hospital, Lilian Gregson-Ellis was Commandant between February and December 1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 February Share Posted 27 February Super photos, thank you for sharing them. The portraits show well turned soldiers out as I would expect given their cap badge (and a pretty sister to boot). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 28 February Share Posted 28 February 9 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: Super photos, thank you for sharing them. The portraits show well turned soldiers out as I would expect given their cap badge (and a pretty sister to boot). 9 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: Super photos, thank you for sharing them. The portraits show well turned soldiers out as I would expect given their cap badge (and a pretty sister to boot). I recall (away from my sources at the moment) that 'Jones-Billy' was famous for his send-offs for the drafts from 3RWF. "May God go with you .......I will go with you as far as the station" Apochryphal but a good tale. RWF were offered to become the Welsh Guards and turned it down. The Prince of Wales was pleased Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 28 February Share Posted 28 February 31 minutes ago, Muerrisch said: I recall (away from my sources at the moment) that 'Jones-Billy' was famous for his send-offs for the drafts from 3RWF. "May God go with you .......I will go with you as far as the station" Apochryphal but a good tale. RWF were offered to become the Welsh Guards and turned it down. The Prince of Wales was pleased It’s interesting that the draft appear to have been given two footballs to take with them. RWF was more a football battalion than rugby back then. Like you I recall reading about the matter appertaining to Welsh Guards, but to my great frustration I can no longer find it or remember where it was sourced from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 28 February Share Posted 28 February Don't those two anecdotes get a mention in Goodbye To All That? Only say this because they both rang a bell. I did wonder about Old Soldiers Never Die but If it had been via Frank Richards' book(s), one - or both - of you would have known, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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