Grenadier Guards pre war

[GRANVILLE]

Family research has revealed that one of my Great Uncles joined the GG's in 1911. Was the service dress as per 1914 etc and does anyone have a photo of the ceremonial dress of that time?

David

[simon2]

Not sure if this is ceremonial dress but it was taken around 1911.

[GRANVILLE]

This looks ceremonial and of the right period to me, thanks Simon.

Dave

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Dave,

Here are some other images I turned up of Grenadier Guards uniforms, all of which appear to be pre-WW1.

I also have in my own Collection, a fine WW1 era ( KGV ) Grenadier Guards Captain's ceremonial tunic, which will give you some idea of the material, buttons and intricate bullion work on a Grenadier Guards uniform.

Kind regards,

LF

2

[GRANVILLE]

Many thanks LF, excellent pictures as always. My Gt Uncle was 3 GG and joined the colours at 18. I do wonder how much the coronation of 1911 will have had on a young man at that time - promting him (them) to join up if they could?

Dave

[Lancashire Fusilier]

I do wonder how much the coronation of 1911 will have had on a young man at that time - promting him (them) to join up if they could?

Dave

Dave,

Hope they helped.

I am sure the 1911 Coronation ceremonials had a great impact on a lot of young men joining up at that time, even today, there is nothing better than the sight and sounds of the Guards Regiments and their massed bands on ceremonial parade.

Kind regards,

LF

[jasonmarkwebber]

My great grandfather was also in 3GG, here is a picture of him (I think) before the war:

http://3rdgrenadierguardsww1.wordpress.com/about/william-upfield-heathcote/

[GRANVILLE]

Fascinating read Jason.

This prompts me to go back to what little information I gleaned a while ago by writing to the Grenadier Guards archivist, who I hasten to add was very helpful.

I’ve actually got two Gt. Uncles who were Grenadiers. The 1911 joining date I gave in the OP is a bit of a red herring as some of the information gleaned came from the 1911 census and in fact the older of the two joined on 24^th Nov 1909 at 18yrs 11mths. Previously he was a setter on the Midland Railway, Derby and it appears he initially tried to join the local Notts & Derby Sherwood Forrester Regiment, but somehow ended up in the 1^st Battalion Grenadier Guards being given the number 12990.

In 1912 he was transferred to the reservist but at the outbreak of way he was mobilized on the 5^th Aug and was out in France with 1^st GG from Oct 1914. In Feb 1916 he was promoted to Corporal, but by early May 1916 had fallen victim to ‘shell-shock’ and sent back to Britain. He went on to be promoted to Lance Sgt in March 1917, but by May of that year he was discharged. His was described as ‘exemplary, clean, sober and hard working; and extremely good man’. He was awarded the 1914 Star, War Medal and Victory medal.

The other Gt. Uncle is Fredrick Hurst who joined the 3^rd Grenadier Guards on 24^th May 1916, aged 18yrs. According to the GG archives he was given the number 2605386, but on Ancestory we find he may also have been given 25899. For reasons we don’t know, he was given home duties until he went to France in April 1918. He remained in the reserves until May 1932 and married on Christmas Day 1928.

This has proved intriguing, because whilst we have no photographs of either of them, for many years we had one handed-down memento which was a service spoon stamped 3GG and a service number 12628.

The spoon was always understood to have been used by the relative in 3GG, and carefully passed down for this reason. Recent research however, revealed that the service number actually related to someone else which prompted the question of why had it somehow remained in the family above anything else?

The service number on the spoon relates to a Private Herbert Goodly of 3^rd GG (according to the GG archivist – but 2^nd GG according to Ancestory?). Private Goodley was shot (by the enemy) on Christmas Day 1914, when everyone tends to assume they were all enjoying a truce. As Fredrick (3GG) could not have known Herbert, we tend to assume the spoon came into the possession of Alfred (1^st GG), who may well have served alongside him?

A few years ago the spoon stamped 3GG 12628 was actually stolen from me in France along with all of the other kit I possessed at that time, and if anyone ever turns it up, I would be utterly delighted.

Dave Upton

[jasonmarkwebber]

Hi Dave

That's fascinating stuff, i'm very intrigued about the spoon and sorry to hear it was stolen. Private Goodly can't have been shot whilst in 3GG, however, as they didn't arrive in France until July 1915. I expect he was in 1st or 2nd batts?

Cheers.

Jason

[GRANVILLE]

Thanks Jason,

It is a bit of an intrigue in that Goodley is shown as 2GG on Ancestory, but the spoon was clearly stamped with his serial No. plus 3GG. Is it possible the service no. & reuseable kit would be issued to a n other now serving in 3GG?

Dave

[jasonmarkwebber]

Or he was originally in 3GG but was sent to another battalion as a replacement in 1914?

[GRANVILLE]

Cheers, that would make more sense.