Saxon79 Posted 26 May , 2013 Share Posted 26 May , 2013 Hi, I'm looking for some info/confirmation on the photo I've attached and would really appreciate some feedback from people more in the know than me. This is an undated photo of my great grandfather. I know he served in the Royal Field Artillery during the Great War. Unfortunately his service record no longer exists but according to his medal index card he was a TF soldier (driver) when he went to France and was at least a Lance Bombardier at some point. However the buttons on this uniform don't look like any I've seen before. The spacings seem strange. Unfortunately there are no badges and the only other features are the chevrons on his right arm, and even they look a little strange. I was wondering, did they have different uniforms for TF soldiers prior to the outbreak of war? Or is this a specific Uniform? According to the 1911 census he worked as a 19 year old messenger so this may not even be a military uniform at all... Thanks for your help... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 26 May , 2013 Share Posted 26 May , 2013 I may be way off here, but the only unit I can think of that spaces buttons like that is the Scots Guards.....I think. The uniform looks like "Patrol Blues" Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B Posted 26 May , 2013 Share Posted 26 May , 2013 I would agree with Chris, from my limited knowledge only the Scots guards wore buttons in 3's like this and my Scots Guards KD has them this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon92 Posted 26 May , 2013 Share Posted 26 May , 2013 I concur that the OP's photo is that of a Scots Guardsman. See below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saxon79 Posted 26 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2013 Thanks for the feedback. It certainly does look like a Scots Guards uniform. It's just strange since he served in the Royal Field Artillery during the war. His 1915 Star and British and Victory medals state the RFA too. Unfortunately this looks like a mystery that won't be solved... Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill24chev Posted 27 May , 2013 Share Posted 27 May , 2013 Would a Guardsman have missed the attention to detail of a missing or undone (bottom group)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B Posted 27 May , 2013 Share Posted 27 May , 2013 Would a Guardsman have missed the attention to detail of a missing or undone (bottom group)? My KD has only a single button at the bottom, of a different type and would be behind the belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Stewart Posted 27 May , 2013 Share Posted 27 May , 2013 Thanks for the feedback. It certainly does look like a Scots Guards uniform. It's just strange since he served in the Royal Field Artillery during the war. His 1915 Star and British and Victory medals state the RFA too. Unfortunately this looks like a mystery that won't be solved... Thanks for the help. I think you'll also find that the photo was taken post-WWI, certainly mid to late 1920's, possibly even early 1930's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saxon79 Posted 28 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2013 I think you'll also find that the photo was taken post-WWI, certainly mid to late 1920's, possibly evenyearly 1930's How can you tell it was taken in the 1920's or 1930's? He would have been 26 years old in 1918 so I doubt it could be the 30's as it would make him nearly 40 and he just doesn't look that old in the photo. He did work as a messenger pre-war however, so he may have gone back to that after the war. The uniform may not even be military at all. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Stewart Posted 29 May , 2013 Share Posted 29 May , 2013 How can you tell it was taken in the 1920's or 1930's? He would have been 26 years old in 1918 so I doubt it could be the 30's as it would make him nearly 40 and he just doesn't look that old in the photo. He did work as a messenger pre-war however, so he may have gone back to that after the war. The uniform may not even be military at all. Just a thought. A 'messenger' with Guards pattern Corporal's stripes and a Scots Guards 'blues' jacket, complete with the triple button pattern - I think not. The photo in my honest opinion is not Great War and so I have to ask are you 100% certain it is your great grandfather or did he have brothers who served in the Army. Also a name would help as other members have access to records online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 29 May , 2013 Share Posted 29 May , 2013 That pattern of Guards undress tunic is still worn today with the lower pockets set on as opposed to inset. The type of chevron worn with it is also unique to Guards. The enclosed images show the same jacket as worn by Coldstream Guards with buttons in twos. Note the lower pockets and style of chevrons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoEssGee Posted 8 August , 2013 Share Posted 8 August , 2013 Would a Guardsman have missed the attention to detail of a missing or undone (bottom group)? Not improperly dressed. The lowest button is always omitted, the third button being represented by the boss of the Buff belt. This pattern of uniform (as correctly mentioned above by Frogsmile) is still worn in the Regiment today, and is known as No 1 dress or "Blues". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalyback Posted 8 August , 2013 Share Posted 8 August , 2013 Martial status when in the TF? Appears to be wearing a wedding ring. The photo is in reverse. Ignore above! Rank would be on right arm. So why does there appear to be a ring on the right hand? It is level with the little finger knuckle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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