Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Identify Regiment or Uniform


jameeuwsen

Recommended Posts

Jan

Welcome to the Forum

He is a Musician in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. He is also wearing two long service stripes indicating around 6 to 12 years service.

From the style of the photograph, this probably dates from the late 1890s.

What interests me is the Photographer as, having been brought up in South Farnborough and North Camp, I have never heard of "The Pavement" address!

Do you have a name for this Highlander?

Sepoy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sepoy is correct. One refinement: He is a Bandsman of the Q.O. Cameron Highlanders. "Musician" was used in the Guards.

The subject in the photo is probably from the first battalion because he wears the pre-1881 pattern plaid brooch that was carried over for many years by Pipers and Bandsmen; I do not think I have seen a photo of a post-1897 2nd Bn Cameron wearing the old pattern brooch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have just been advised by a friend, who specialises in the history of Farnborough, that the Pavement is in Lynchford Road and dates from around 1898. James Thomson is shown as a Photographer in Lynchford Road in a Street Directory for 1911.

I have added a current Google Earth image showing where the photographer shop would have been.

Sepoy

post-55476-0-42615000-1387209218_thumb.j

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sepoy,

With the photo taken in Farnborough, could we not conclude that this Bandsman's battalion was stationed at Aldershot? The 1st Bn Q.O. Cameron Highlanders were at Aldershot 1910-1912 thus making this window the likely period of this photo.

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Sepoy,

The surname of this sodier is unknwn to me.

At the back of the foto only a remark " from Jack to Emma ".

Emma is my grandmother Emma Elizabeth Keeys and I am the owner of a old photo album of Emma and het mother.

Regards,

Jan Meeuwsen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sepoy,

With the photo taken in Farnborough, could we not conclude that this Bandsman's battalion was stationed at Aldershot? The 1st Bn Q.O. Cameron Highlanders were at Aldershot 1910-1912 thus making this window the likely period of this photo.

Mike

Mike

Do you know which Barracks the 1st Bn Cameron Highlanders occupied, whilst stationed at Aldershot?

Sepoy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Sepoy,

The surname of this sodier is unknwn to me.

At the back of the foto only a remark " from Jack to Emma ".

Emma is my grandmother Emma Elizabeth Keeys and I am the owner of a old photo album of Emma and het mother.

Regards,

Jan Meeuwsen

Jan

It is a real shame that you do not have a surname for the Highlander, it would have been interesting to discover whether he continued to serve during the Great War. Either way, it is an excellent photograph.

Would you have any objections if I post this photograph on the "Welcome to Historic Farnborough" Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/6907700962/), attributed to yourself?

Sepoy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mike

Do you know which Barracks the 1st Bn Cameron Highlanders occupied, whilst stationed at Aldershot?

Sepoy

Sepoy,

I am afraid I do not know. Below is an image of the Pipes & Drums said to have been taken at Aldershot in 1910 with barrack building behind. Perhaps, as a long shot, this may spring some recognition.

Mike

192f132378b1.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sepoy,

I am afraid I do not know. Below is an image of the Pipes & Drums said to have been taken at Aldershot in 1910 with barrack building behind. Perhaps, as a long shot, this may spring some recognition.

Mike

Mike

Thanks for adding the photograph. Unfortunately, most of the Barrack blocks in North Camp, Aldershot were built to similar designs so it may be difficult to recognise.

Sepoy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sepoy,

I don`t have any objections if you post the photo on the Farnborough page on Facebook.

I even don`t know of Jack is a family member of Emma or just a friend, there is another photo of Jack and Emma made in January 1916 while Jack was on leave.

On this photo he is not in uniform but he were spurs on his boots, you can see this photo on my Flickr page ( follow the link ) with a few other photo`s of my grandmother.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28075216@N03/8185206925/

Jan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mike,

You post a groups photo on one of your answers.

Is it possible for me to download a high resolution of this photograph someware , maybe it is possible to enlarges the faces on the phot and see of Jack ?? is in the group as wel.

Regards,

Jan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mike,

You post a groups photo on one of your answers.

Is it possible for me to download a high resolution of this photograph someware , maybe it is possible to enlarges the faces on the phot and see of Jack ?? is in the group as wel.

Regards,

Jan

Jan,

I would be pleased to send you the full resolution version of the photo if you PM your email address to me. Please be aware, however, that Jack was a member of the military band. The photo I posted was of the Pipes and Drums. So, I do not think you will locate Jack in that photo.

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Mike,

My e-mail adress is seagull@hotmail.nl

Do you know of there is a list with names of members of the regiment at the time they stayed on Farnborough.

If Jack is family of Emma I can look for a surname out of the family tree.

Regards,

Jan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Mike,

My e-mail adress is seagull@hotmail.nl

Do you know of there is a list with names of members of the regiment at the time they stayed on Farnborough.

If Jack is family of Emma I can look for a surname out of the family tree.

Regards,

Jan

Jan,

The only place that members of the 1st Bn Cameron Highlanders 1910-1912 (when they were at Aldershot) is recorded is in the Quarterly Muster Rolls and Paybooks that are held at the UK's National Archives. You can pinpoint the relevant rolls by doing a search on the NA's site, but they are not available online. You would have to order them in hardcopy, but that will turn out to be very expensive because they are very reluctant to search out relevant pages. The best answer is to go there in person which is certainly not very satisfactory. Perhaps, someone else on the Forum may have better advice.

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jan,

The only place that members of the 1st Bn Cameron Highlanders 1910-1912 (when they were at Aldershot) is recorded is in the Quarterly Muster Rolls and Paybooks that are held at the UK's National Archives. You can pinpoint the relevant rolls by doing a search on the NA's site, but they are not available online. You would have to order them in hardcopy, but that will turn out to be very expensive because they are very reluctant to search out relevant pages. The best answer is to go there in person which is certainly not very satisfactory. Perhaps, someone else on the Forum may have better advice.

Mike

Unfortunately, the Musters/Pay Books are not available for this period. See here http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/army-muster-1730-1898.htm

It may be worth searching the Service papers shown on Findmypast or Ancestry for the Cameron Highlanders just in case a name springs out. It would be a major task.....

Sepoy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unfortunately, the Musters/Pay Books are not available for this period. See here http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/army-muster-1730-1898.htm

It may be worth searching the Service papers shown on Findmypast or Ancestry for the Cameron Highlanders just in case a name springs out. It would be a major task.....

Sepoy

The only other place to pursue this might be a query to The Highlanders Museum at Ft. George that holds the Regimental collections for the Seaforth Highlanders and Cameron Highlanders. They are unlikely to have much on Other Ranks, however, other than medal rolls. It is a long shot but possibly worth a try. As Jack was a Bandsman, there may be photos in their collection of the 1st Bn Band during your period of interest.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No need to be Scottish at all. As the sergeant said when I joined the London Jocks, "We have room for a few sassenachs" ...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 years later...

Last week after years of research on my English family I found the name of the soldier in the Scottish uniform, first you are right he served in the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders from 1898 until 1910, his name was John Francis Dicks and his Reg Nr. 4585, in 1910 he signed in for the Middlesex Regiment, first as private and later on as Lance Corporal, his Reg Nr for this period was 13275. I found a report on Ancestry, it is hand written and difficult to reed ( I am Dutch ). Is there a member of this forum who can and wil help me. Attached a photo of John Francis Dicks ( Jack ) with my grandmother in 1916, on his boots I see spurs, are there horses in the Middlesex Regiment ?, Kind regards.

Jan Meeuwsen

scan0003kopie.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Congratulations, and thanks for updating this thread. What are the hand-written records you'd like help with, Jan?

 

John Francis Dicks was a soldier of the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment when was made a prisoner of war on 23rd August 1914. Some of his pension records are also on Ancestry, including some for his Middlesex service. He arrived back in England on 18th November 1918, which - given his long period of imprisonment - suggests he might have been interned in Holland in early 1918; my grandfather (a prisoner since 26th August 1914) was interned in Holland then and was repatriated on the same date as Dicks, disembarking at Hull from SS Arbroath on 18th November 1918.

 

Incidentally, to clear up the discussion from years ago, his papers show Dicks enlisted as a 16-year-old musician and served at least initially with C Company, 2nd Cameron Highlanders.

 

Cheers, Pat.

 

Edit: his records say he returned "from Germany" on 18th November 1918

Edited by Pat Atkins
correcting date of PoW
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jack is wearing a mounted duty pattern greatcoat in the photo with his lady friend.  He is an older soldier who had served since being a boy-bandsman, so by 1914 was one of the older but highly experienced soldiers in 4th Middlesex.  The spurs and greatcoat together suggest that he was a member of the battalion transport, who were responsible for 'driving' (horse drawn) the battalion's small train of logistical transport comprising 'General Service' wagons for the reserve ammunition, water carts and field kitchens for each company, and a Maltese Cart for the officers' mess, as well as exercising some hacks for the battalion's field officers.  It was a typical role for each battalions oldest soldiers, who would have found it more difficult to do the long marches on foot, but they also brought the necessary experience to get the logistics through, come-what-may.

 

I think that the inscription on the card reads: What do you think of these 'chums' (an old expression for friends) taken while Jack was here on leave Jan 21st 1916.  It might also say 'cards', but that would suggest more than one and the lettering is as you say indistinct.

 

 

Inf Tpt.jpg

Field Kitchen.jpg

Maltese Cart.jpg

Water Cart.jpg

Inf Tpt Sect.jpg

Edited by FROGSMILE
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Pat

The handwritten document is a file with 28 pages found and downloaded from Ancestry.uk

Ik don't know of it is possible or allowed  to uploaded this pages to this forum.

Some of the info you mentioned is correct I have seen the term Holland  on one of the pages and also some names and addresses.

Regards, Jan

Hello Frogsmile, Thanks for the info and the pictures, the girl on the foto is his neece.

 

Regards,

 

Jan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I doubt if we can publish Ancestry material here in any bulk, Jan, but to clear up a point here's the reference to Holland. It shows that Dicks was taken prisoner on 23rd August 1914, wounded in his left thigh), and was interned in Holland on 29th December 1917. He was repatriated to the UK on 18th November 1918 on a ship whose name I can't read! "SS W..."?

NB There should be an International Red Cross record for him as a PoW (beware, the search function is not very intuitive!". With that date of capture I'm guessing he was taken prisoner at Mons.

 

Cheers, Pat

 

 

 

690336742_Screenshot2020-03-30at19_42_05.png.9bb6890ab67620a245fe24da31552293.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dicks as a surname is found by searching for Dick (singular). He is in the Middlesex Regiment batch.

 

 

Steve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...