meadowcroft Posted 19 January , 2012 Share Posted 19 January , 2012 Can anyone identify the cap badge from this grainy photo, please. My great uncle Alfred Johnston, photo taken at Hounslow, Middlesex, August 1918. Thank you for all suggestions. Jayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 19 January , 2012 Share Posted 19 January , 2012 It is the badge of the Machine Gun Corps (MGC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 19 January , 2012 Share Posted 19 January , 2012 Is he this man? Johnston, Alfred C Royal Warwickshire Regiment 37581 Private Machine Gun Corps 177119 Private Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowcroft Posted 19 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 19 January , 2012 Thank you, perhaps it is him. He was Alfred Horace Cecil Johnston born 1899. I include a wider photo which includes his left sleeve. I apologise for the quality of the photo which I received as a shiny scan of the original photo. Many thanks for your identification. Marvellous. Jayne Is he this man? Johnston, Alfred C Royal Warwickshire Regiment 37581 Private Machine Gun Corps 177119 Private Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 19 January , 2012 Share Posted 19 January , 2012 Hi Jayne it would appear from his medal index card that this Alfred johnston served in India on the north west frontier.His medal entitlement was the British War Medal and The Indian General Service Medal with clasp for Afghanistan.Could not find service record but link for mic below.He has an address in Sheffield on mic.john http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-c&gsfn=Alfred+c&gsfn_x=1&gsln=johnston&gsln_x=1&gskw=177119&cpxt=1&uidh=ajh&cp=11&pcat=39&h=5391469&recoff=9+10+11&db=MedalRolls&indiv=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowcroft Posted 19 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 19 January , 2012 Hello John: It is wonderful information if it is him. Amazed that he went overseas, I somehow thought he stayed in the UK. No family stories came down about his military years. Stumped as to that Sheffield address though. I am thrilled and grateful. Thank you for the link. Jayne Hi Jayne it would appear from his medal index card that this Alfred johnston served in India on the north west frontier.His medal entitlement was the British War Medal and The Indian General Service Medal with clasp for Afghanistan.Could not find service record but link for mic below.He has an address in Sheffield on mic.john http://search.ancest...alRolls&indiv=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 20 January , 2012 Share Posted 20 January , 2012 Here is the badge Jayne. You might like to look at this site: http://www.machine-gun-corps-database.co.uk/intro_page.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deano Posted 20 January , 2012 Share Posted 20 January , 2012 Hi meadowcroft, in Whites's 1911 and 1919 Trade Directories for Sheffield, 2 Court, Princess street is occupied by Alfred Johnston, Coal Dealer, he also appears in the 1925 Kelly's Trade Directory. Probably young Alfred's father ? Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 20 January , 2012 Share Posted 20 January , 2012 If it is him he certainly did travel, the MGC served on the North West Frontier and he will be listed on the medal rolls which will give his unit and possibly when he was discharged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 20 January , 2012 Share Posted 20 January , 2012 The use of collar badges strongly suggests post-war; and I would wager that that is the MG in a wreath above his stripes - making him an instructor. He also seems to have a Musketry skill-at-arms qualification on his lower left sleeve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowcroft Posted 20 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 20 January , 2012 Here is the badge Jayne. You might like to look at this site: http://www.machine-g...intro_page.html Thank you for this Frogsmile. Jayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowcroft Posted 20 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 20 January , 2012 Hi meadowcroft, in Whites's 1911 and 1919 Trade Directories for Sheffield, 2 Court, Princess street is occupied by Alfred Johnston, Coal Dealer, he also appears in the 1925 Kelly's Trade Directory. Probably young Alfred's father ? Dean. Hello Dean: Thank you for this useful information. It took me to the 1911 Census for Sheffield and I realized that A.C. Johnston is not my man afterall. The Census indicates that A.C. Johnston was born in 1881 in Sheffield while my gr uncle was born in Islington in 1899. Also, my uncle's father was Harry Johnston. I will rule out the MGC for the Royal Warwickshire regiment. Jayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowcroft Posted 20 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 20 January , 2012 The use of collar badges strongly suggests post-war; and I would wager that that is the MG in a wreath above his stripes - making him an instructor. He also seems to have a Musketry skill-at-arms qualification on his lower left sleeve. Hello Staffsyeoman: All exciting new details to learn about him. Many thanks for these observations. Jayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 20 January , 2012 Share Posted 20 January , 2012 Hello Staffsyeoman: All exciting new details to learn about him. Many thanks for these observations. Jayne Jayne, it is true that most units started to wear collar badges after WW1, but you should note that the MGC were one of the units that in some (but not all) cases wore them in WW1, so it is not quite so clear cut. This was perhaps because there were so many other regiments involved in their make up. For example both cavalry and guards units that initially were absorbed by the MGC often wore their own cap badges but MGC collars. This seems to have led to some (but not all) other units that did wear the MGC cap badge also adopting the collar badge, even though officially the practice was forbidden. I agree with Staffsyeoman that he appears to have an instructional qualification in the form of a proficiency badge above his chevrons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowcroft Posted 20 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 20 January , 2012 Thank you Frogsmile for yet more information. I'm glad to have learned so much about him and his military involvement in 1918. Jayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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