UNIFORM IDENTIFICATION

[Greekmythodea]

I wonder if there is anyone that can help me identify the uniform worn by my Great Uncle Edward. The picture below was taken in 1912. I have searched WWI records and can find nothing, but the uniform seems to indicate that he was a soldier.

His brother, Henry James, emigrated to Canada in 1913 and joined the Canadian Grenadier Guards and his younger brother George joined the Royal Field Artillery. Both were killed in action in France.

I do not have any other photograph of Great Uncle Edward and even though I have tried to identify parts of the uniform my inexpertise means that I am unable to go any further.

Any help at all would be gratefully received.

[Khaki]

Hello, Greekmythodea,

The uniform looks to me pre ww1, and the collar badges I would suggest are Artillery. There also appears to be a badge above the stripe on his right arm, can't quite make it out but is probably the best clue if we could see it better. Grumpy or someone may have a better chance with it, can you enlarge/ enhance the image a bit?

khaki

[CGM]

Findmypast has some pre-war military records. It is free to search and you can buy credits to look at any records you may find, you don't have to take out a subscription.

(If your Great Uncle continued to serve well into the war his records will not be there though.)

CGM

[Greekmythodea]

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to reply. I have already look at pre-war records and could find nothing. I will, however, have another look just in case.

[Greekmythodea]

Hi, yes, there is a badge above the stripe. I will try to enhance the image, but the pixel size of the photo is already rather low so I don't think I will have much luck.......

Thank yu very much for taking the time to look and reply though - very grateful for your thoughts already given...

[Greekmythodea]

I've enlarged the photo and applied some enhancements but it's not very good. However, the badge definately has a "cross" in the middle with something either side of the cross .....

Since I am new I am not sure how to upload another photograph .... sorry.

[asanewt]

Not much improvement but here goes.

[battiscombe]

if a photo taken in 1912 - he was almost certainly in the military when the 1911 census was made. have you searched all the census records for him? it looks rather like artillery ....... if you can provide a full name it is quite possible someone may be able to help

seeing that it is hard to recognise any of the usual artillery badges [gun layer - wheeler, - farrier ..] it looked to be something in a wreath perhaps?

[Greekmythodea]

Hi, yes, I have searched the 1911 census and he is there - living with this brother Henry James in Tottenham, London. He is listed as "assistant". As Henry James is listed as the owner, I naturally assumed that Edward was working as his assistant in the shop.

All the information I have is this:

Edward Alfred Green, born abt 1891 in Tottenham, Middlesex, London. Second eldest son of Henry John Green and Alice Fletcher.

Edward is not present on the family 1911 census. He has already moved away from the family home.

Edward is, in fact, living with his brother Henry James, at 13 Chalgrove Road, Tottenham and appears to be working for Henry James (eldest son) as an assistant in a Confectioners/Tobacconist Henry James is shown as working on his "own account" - code 926 showing in column 11.

Edward Alfred's younger brother George Lawrence Green joined the Royal Field Artillery as a gunner (121777). I don't know the date that he joined, only the date he died as I cannot find his army records.

I've attached my enhancement of the badge on Edward's arm, but it is still not at all clear ....

Any more help very gratefully received as I have come to a grinding halt!

[battiscombe]

if edward is a one stripe soldier in 1912 and at home in 1911 this might suggest he was in the territorials - might it not? I wonder if this could be Royal Fusiliers (London regiment) ??? who also wear a grenade at the collar i believe. The belt looks possibly 'wrong' for artillery and I wonder if there should be some piping cord around the collar. but there are people who could advise this is fusiliers

I would think his brother joined the artillery in 1915 with that number

[Greekmythodea]

Oh, I never thought that Edward may be in the territorials. I shall pursue that idea and let you know if I find anything. A big thank you for taking the time to reply as I am so keen to find out more about my Great Uncle.

I was wondering about the belt too. What could this be? My Great Uncle George also wore a belt with his uniform but it was slung diagonally over his left shoulder ..... as the photo shows ....

[Khaki]

Your Uncle George is an artillery man without any doubt, note the cap badge which is RA, the spurs and riding crop and the shoulder lanyard. The shoulder belt you noted is a leather rifle ammunition bandolier which was usual for gunners.

khaki

[Greekmythodea]

Wow, Khaki, thank you very much. I am very new to researching WWI, so the information you have given me is really welcome......

[battiscombe]

yes- he is clearly artillery in this photo.. perhaps when recently joined? : if one of the territorial London Brigade field artillery units I am not sure which one seems likely : .. 1st brigade was based at the Barbican, 2nd Woolwich, 3rd City Road, 4th lewisham,5th kennington Lane & Paddington 6th Brixton, 7th Shepherds Bush, 8th Plumstead, or just possibly one of the London Garrison Artillery Batteries. Strange that no sign of a medal card or record for him though.

service numbers for the London units (when given 6 figure numbers,... prewar numbers are likely to be under 1-999 range) are

925001-930000 RFA TF/ 1 LONDON BDE

930001-935000 RFA TF/ 2 LONDON BDE

935001-940000 RFA TF/ 3 LONDON BDE

940001-945000 RFA TF/ 4 LONDON BDE

945001-950000 56 DAC/ 1 LONDON

950001-955000 RFA TF/ 5 LONDON BDE

955001-960000 RFA TF/ 6 LONDON BDE

960001-965000 RFA TF/ 7 LONDON BDE

965001-970000 RFA TF/ 8 LONDON BDE