Approx Dating and Uniform description please

[cranethie]

Recently I received some papers that included this photograph - the gentleman sitting is my grandfather Isaac John Joseph Thompson and the younger man is Phillip Doyle my Gt Uncle. We know that both served in the RAMC - my grandfather joined firstly in 1902 - was discharged in 1924, then re-enlisted in 1939 till 1946. I have no idea of Phillip's service time.

Mainly I'd be interested in a uniform description as well as a possible dating - pre or post WW1. I do have some other information regarding rank but would love to have an opinion on here.

Hoping to hear from someone soon

Catherine

[roughdiamond]

Your Grandfather seated, is wearing the rank of a Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) the highest no-commissioned rank in the Army, he has 3 medal cards on the National Archives http://www.nationala...pe=1=* one of which lists him as acting WO1.

The medal ribbons seem to be a 1914 or 1914 -15 Star and the Victory medal with an oak leaf for a Mentioned in Dispatches which would account for one of the 3 Medal Cards (Probably the one listed as JJ Thompson as it's not an Ancestry), the latter would make the photo 1919 or early 1920 as there's no sign of the British War Medal IMHO

This is his MID entry from the London Gazette http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29664/supplements/6952 it's for Gallantry in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and dated 13th July 1916.

Philip Doyle could be 63342 Pte Philip Doyle RAMC http://www.nationala...1&resultcount=1 he may not be displaying any medals as they were not all issued at the same time.

Sam

[David B]

May notice that he is wearing at least 3 overseas service chevrons, so couldn't be earlier that 1917.

[FROGSMILE]

Yes, I agree with Sam, a WO1 of the Royal Army Medical Corps in Khaki Drill pattern Officers Service Dress jacket, but crudely made up as it does not fit him well, being too short in both arms and body. Perhaps the dhobi wallah used a boil wash !

[cranethie]

Thank you all for that - Mum did say something years ago about him being 'Mentioned' but never knew what for.

Sam where would they have been fighting at that time - I did look at the link but am asking 'How did you find out what the mention was for?' as I couldn't find a way to go any further than that, also where would be the best place to find out about the Mediterranean Expedition Force?

Wonder where they were when the photograph was taken - Middle East or Far East?

Catherine

[roughdiamond]

Thank you all for that - Mum did say something years ago about him being 'Mentioned' but never knew what for.

Sam where would they have been fighting at that time - I did look at the link but am asking 'How did you find out what the mention was for?' as I couldn't find a way to go any further than that, also where would be the best place to find out about the Mediterranean Expedition Force?

Wonder where they were when the photograph was taken - Middle East or Far East?

Catherine

Catherine

This is the 1st page to the London Gazette Suppliment http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29664/supplements/6941 that's where the info comes from, as the Gazette states The Mediterranian Expeditionary Force (MEF) was under the command of Sir Charles Munro, he was the one tasked with evacuating the MEF from Gallipoli whereafter it ceased to exist, so it's very very likely the MiD was related to the evacuation.

Whether he then went to Salonika, Egypt, France or even India is hard to tell, his Medal Card on Ancestry for his Star http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?MS_AdvCB=1&db=MedalRolls&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MSAV=2&msT=1&gss=ms_r_db&gsfn=i+j+j&gsfn_x=1&gsln=thompson&gsln_x=1&_F0003FD8=17965&dbOnly=_F0003FD8%7C_F0003FD8_x&_F0003FD8_x=1&_F0003FD9=Royal+army+medical+corps&dbOnly=_F0003FD9%7C_F0003FD9_x&_F0003FD9_x=1&uidh=000 should give a "Theatre first served in" and "Date of entry therein" this should give a rough idea of the Division he was with. This 2nd Medal Card should be for his Victory and War medals http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?MS_AdvCB=1&db=MedalRolls&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MSAV=2&msT=1&gss=ms_r_db&gsfn=isaac&gsfn_x=1&gsln=thompson&gsln_x=1&_F0003FD8=17965&dbOnly=_F0003FD8%7C_F0003FD8_x&_F0003FD8_x=1&_F0003FD9=Royal+army+medical+corps&dbOnly=_F0003FD9%7C_F0003FD9_x&_F0003FD9_x=1&uidh=000 both are free to view on Ancestry if you take the free trial option.

For reading on the MEF, it's simply the Gallipoli campaign as that was the only active theatre in that area of operations.

Final one for you on Isaac, you can apply for copies of his service records which should be held by the MOD as he served until 1924, this explains how http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html these should answer all of your queries.

This Medal card is for the Philip Doyle I mentioned earlier http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?MS_AdvCB=1&db=MedalRolls&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MSAV=2&msT=1&gss=ms_r_db&gsfn=Philip&gsfn_x=1&gsln=Doyle&gsln_x=1&_F0003FD8=63342&dbOnly=_F0003FD8%7C_F0003FD8_x&_F0003FD8_x=1&_F0003FD9=Royal+army+medical+corps&dbOnly=_F0003FD9%7C_F0003FD9_x&_F0003FD9_x=1&uidh=000 it's possible he may have stayed in the Army and his records may also be with the MOD.

Sam

[trajan]

...his Medal Card on Ancestry for his Star http://search.ancest...D9_x=1&uidh=000 should give a "Theatre first served in" and "Date of entry therein" this should give a rough idea of the Division he was with. This 2nd Medal Card should be for his Victory and War medals http://search.ancest...D9_x=1&uidh=000 ...

Final one for you on Isaac, you can apply for copies of his service records which should be held by the MOD as he served until 1924, this explains how http://www.veterans-...cords/army.html ...Philip Doyle I mentioned earlier http://search.ancest...D9_x=1&uidh=000 ...

Catherine, I checked Isaac's MIC cards and no information there on where and when he served... If I get a chance I'll follow up on the other leads that Sam posted.

Trajan