SGudjonsson47 Posted 28 May , 2012 Share Posted 28 May , 2012 The attached picture is of my Great Grandfather. Can anyone date the uniform and tell me if he actually served in the army? He was born in 1861. Thank you Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 28 May , 2012 Share Posted 28 May , 2012 Royal Engineers. Whats his name forum members may be able to add further information. Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 28 May , 2012 Share Posted 28 May , 2012 Yes I agree with Sepoy, the cap badge is very clear and is that of the Royal Engineers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGudjonsson47 Posted 28 May , 2012 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2012 Name: James Edward Wilson Broadbent. In civilian life he was an engineer in a paper mill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 28 May , 2012 Share Posted 28 May , 2012 A quick search of Medal Cards on Ancestry does not reveal a James E Broadbent in the Royal Engineers. There is, however, a card to a 555723 Pte James Edward Broadbent, listed as serving in the Labour Corps who was not entitled to any awards due to not landing in France until 11th July, 1919. Due to being well into his 50s during WW1, your relation probably spent his war in the UK, but it is quite possible that he transferred to the Labour Corps and is the chap mentioned above. Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGudjonsson47 Posted 28 May , 2012 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2012 Thank you - the photo has puzzled me for quite a while, as there was never any hint that JEB had ever served, but I guess he wanted to do his bit, on reserve as it were? One of his sons, also James Edward Broadbent, was a Stretcher Bearer, who served from the outset in 1914 until he died of wounds in Flanders, Dec 30 1917. It's hard now to comprehend how much ordinary people were prepared to give. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGudjonsson47 Posted 28 May , 2012 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2012 Also - where do I find the reference that you mention to 555723? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wainfleet Posted 28 May , 2012 Share Posted 28 May , 2012 Susan The medal index cards for WW1 soldiers are here. Best wishes, W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGudjonsson47 Posted 29 May , 2012 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2012 Thank you. This is very interesting for me. I had never heard of the Labour Corps until it was mentioned here. Nor have I ever heard anything of what my G Grandfather might have done during WW1, so I am going to assume that he was not sent abroad, but served some useful purpose in the UK. Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGudjonsson47 Posted 29 May , 2012 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2012 I wonder if it's possible to date tis photo, approximately? Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Lee Posted 29 May , 2012 Share Posted 29 May , 2012 Susan There is a reference to him in the Leeds Absent Voters List which states he was in 696 Company 696 was an Agricultural Company located at Lewes and Chichester in Sussex during 1918. For him to be in an agricultural company he was either a low medical catergory or had a specialist skill like a ploughman. With his going to France in July 1919 I suspect he was one of the men who volunteered in 1919 for one year's service in France on exhmation and reburial of the dead. Ivor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGudjonsson47 Posted 29 May , 2012 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2012 Thanks Ivor - it looks like it's back to the drawing board, as I'm pretty sure my GGrandfather did not live in Leeds. His son, also James Edward, died of wounds in Flanders Dec 30 1917 and his Army Service Record gives his parents address as Church St, Salford, which fits in with other information that I have from the family. Also, JEB Senior was an engineer in a paper mill and to the very best of my knowledge never worked in agriculture - he was very much an urbanite. On the other hand, his civilian profession seems to fit in with the RE badge on his cap. Any other suggestions would be most welcome. Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 30 May , 2012 Share Posted 30 May , 2012 Thanks Ivor - it looks like it's back to the drawing board, as I'm pretty sure my GGrandfather did not live in Leeds. His son, also James Edward, died of wounds in Flanders Dec 30 1917 and his Army Service Record gives his parents address as Church St, Salford, which fits in with other information that I have from the family. Also, JEB Senior was an engineer in a paper mill and to the very best of my knowledge never worked in agriculture - he was very much an urbanite. On the other hand, his civilian profession seems to fit in with the RE badge on his cap. Any other suggestions would be most welcome. Susan Just a thought Susan and do not read too much into this, but the Royal Engineers were and still are responsible for the making and issuing of topographical (ordnance survey) maps and someone with the skills of an engineer in a paper mill would have been extremely useful to the war effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGudjonsson47 Posted 31 May , 2012 Author Share Posted 31 May , 2012 What a great thought! As a geographer and Town Planner (retired) I love the thought that Great Grandfather may have been involved with map-making. Maps have always been a real joy to me. However, I'm not going to get carried away with the idea until there is more tangible evidence! Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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