SRD Posted 22 April , 2012 Share Posted 22 April , 2012 I've found a few more anonymous servicemen in my grandmother's photo album. Maybe if I can pin down anything about their service; uniforms, medals etc. it will help me pinpoint who they are. I'm not sure if you would prefer a single topic to each picture or all in one so I'll start with one at a time, I can always add the rest in future posts should it be preferred. From what I've read here it seems as if the serviceman might have been a cavalryman but from there on I'm stumped. Any help you can give would be gratefully received. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 22 April , 2012 Share Posted 22 April , 2012 Machine Gun Corps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRD Posted 22 April , 2012 Author Share Posted 22 April , 2012 I'm afraid I'm a bit of a novice at this game. I thought that the lanyard on his left shoulder, the cross shoulder bandolier and the possibility of his trousers being jodphurs along with what looks like spur straps on his boots suggested cavalry, were the machine gun corps cavalry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBattle Posted 22 April , 2012 Share Posted 22 April , 2012 RHA/RFA Crossed cannons on cap badge and spurs Any other ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 22 April , 2012 Share Posted 22 April , 2012 I've found a few more anonymous servicemen in my grandmother's photo album. Maybe if I can pin down anything about their service; uniforms, medals etc. it will help me pinpoint who they are. I'm not sure if you would prefer a single topic to each picture or all in one so I'll start with one at a time, I can always add the rest in future posts should it be preferred. From what I've read here it seems as if the serviceman might have been a cavalryman but from there on I'm stumped. Any help you can give would be gratefully received. Machine Gun Corps. With riding/mounted attire Transport section/MT No sign of rank or oversea chevrons/wound stripes. No wedding ring. Does not seem to have black button Shoulder titles on but can not see much detail. Possible TF? Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 22 April , 2012 Share Posted 22 April , 2012 There was a MGC Cavalry and a MGC Infantry. Both wore the same cap badge but were identified by their attire (e.g. bandolier and spurs for Cavalry) and shoulder titles MGC-C and MGC-I, respectively. The photo is clearly that of a soldier in the MGC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 22 April , 2012 Share Posted 22 April , 2012 Quite possible to be Machine Gun Corps and cavalry.john http://www.1914-1918.net/mgccav.html Has he a name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRD Posted 22 April , 2012 Author Share Posted 22 April , 2012 I don't know if this is a help or a hindrance but he isn't sporting any collar badges, which my limited research suggests ought to be the case, and his top button seems to be rather precisely positioned over his collar, I don't know if that's relevant. Quite possible to be Machine Gun Corps and cavalry.john http://www.1914-1918.net/mgccav.html Has he a name? Possibly Haines or Hillman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 22 April , 2012 Share Posted 22 April , 2012 Is it possible the man is a Canadian.Collar dogs were in a lot less use during the war as an economy at times and probably due to the sheer numbers needed unavaiablity at others.john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRD Posted 22 April , 2012 Author Share Posted 22 April , 2012 Machine Gun Corps. With riding/mounted attire Transport section/MT No sign of rank or oversea chevrons/wound stripes. No wedding ring. Does not seem to have black button Shoulder titles on but can not see much detail. Possible TF? Simon Excuse my ignorance, what is the relevance of 'Black Button'? And what's TF? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 22 April , 2012 Share Posted 22 April , 2012 This chap is a possible for Haines MGC cavalry.john http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-c&gsfn_x=1&gsln=haines&gsln_x=1&gskw=mgc&gskw_x=1&cpxt=1&uidh=ajh&cp=11&pcat=39&h=856905&db=BritishArmyService&indiv=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRD Posted 22 April , 2012 Author Share Posted 22 April , 2012 Is it possible the man is a Canadian.Collar dogs were in a lot less use during the war as an economy at times and probably due to the sheer numbers needed unavaiablity at others.john It would seem highly unlikely that the man is anything other than of English Agricultural stock. There is evidence of members of the family travelling to Canada/America in the 19th century and after the Great War, but they don't seem to have stayed away until after WWI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 22 April , 2012 Share Posted 22 April , 2012 It would seem highly unlikely that the man is anything other than of English Agricultural stock. There is evidence of members of the family travelling to Canada/America in the 19th century and after the Great War, but they don't seem to have stayed away until after WWI The chap on the link above is from west hendred berkshire,john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRD Posted 22 April , 2012 Author Share Posted 22 April , 2012 Thanks. Unless they were recruiting in Sussex, or there was a reason for a transfer, I'm not sure it would be the same man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 23 April , 2012 Share Posted 23 April , 2012 Excuse my ignorance, what is the relevance of 'Black Button'? And what's TF? A (single) black button (covered in gauze cloth and usually the second one down the jacket) indicated a close bereavement and had culturally been worn in Society since the death of Queen Victoria. It was 'unofficially' followed by the troops when a relative was killed in the war, even though it was frowned upon by the military authorities. A full set of regimental black buttons (made of bone at that time) indicated a Rifle Regiment. TF = Territorial Force, which was formed in 1908 from the part time soldiers of the Yeomanry (part time cavalry) and Volunteers (part time infantry) that previously had been separate and not as closely aligned with the Regular Army as coherent efficiency would have desired. Although some units (rarely Regulars) wore collar badges during WW1 it was not widespread until the 1920s. The uppermost central button that you noticed has been accentuated by the man pinning or tucking together the tips of his collar under the button and is not unusual. Your man (in photo) is without doubt in the Machine Gun Corps - an entirely Regular body of troops, although some members had previously been in TF or war-raised (Service Battalion) units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wainfleet Posted 23 April , 2012 Share Posted 23 April , 2012 MGC without any possible doubt. He is either in a specialist mounted role or MGC cavalry - statistically, the latter is much more likely. He appears to have cloth patches on his shoulder straps, and there is at least one surviving example of these on an MGC cavalry jacket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRD Posted 23 April , 2012 Author Share Posted 23 April , 2012 Thank you all for your informative replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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