A soldier in uniform 1918/1919

[limerickdogs]

I know this is a long shot, but any information people can gather from this photo would be fantastic.

The child in the photo was born in 1914. He looks about four years old to me and the soldier has his decorations on so I suspect the photo was taken after war's end?

I can't find a regimental badge to match his collar pins and I don't recognise the medal hanging from a chain on his breast?

Many thanks!

[barrieduncan]

If you can blow up a scan of his collar badge and the shoulder title that should help with suggestions of regiment and possibly a battalion.

[4thGordons]

Looks to me like it might be Labour Corps?

Chris

I think the medal on a chain is a watch fob - probably no military significance.

The presence of all the ribbons should allow someone with knowledge of such things to give a not-earlier-than date I think.

Chris

Edited 29 January , 2014 by 4thGordons

[limerickdogs]

Thanks Chris,

I was googling and thought that about the Labour Corp too, but it doesn't fit with whom I think this person might be. Can't rule anything out though!

If you can blow up a scan of his collar badge and the shoulder title that should help with suggestions of regiment and possibly a battalion.

Unfortunately it's a very low-res image so it's indecipherable when enlarged.

[4thGordons]

Re Labour Corps - lots of soldiers were transferred to the Labour Corps if they were physically downgraded because of sickness or injury. I read a statistic somewhere indicating that quite a high percentage of men in uniform were in the Labour Corps by 1918. (Ken Lees is I think the forum member most expert in the Corps) There was some issue relating to which regiment's badge would go on grave markers of men killed/died after having officially been transferred to the Labour Corps. So if you think you know who it may be but Labour Corps doesn't fit... it might be worth a look at his record or consider whether he was wounded/injured or not.

For what it is worth I would put the date as definitely 1919 onwards, not a wartime image.

Chris

[wulfrik-the-wanderer]

appears to be wearing jodhpurs/riding breeches with the reinforcing panels. So perhaps a mounted regiment?

[Stebie9173]

6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) ?

Steve.

[wulfrik-the-wanderer]

looking at the collar badges alone, possible candidates, green howards? The Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards)? good contender as mounted regiment, collar badges look similar and shoulder titles possibly, as mentioned labour corps, these are the one's off the top of my head that look similar.

6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) ?

Steve.

snap! ha ha.

[limerickdogs]

Thank you all!

If I can borrow the original image and have that blown up, I'm sure it'll be clearer. Will try. This is a bit of a mystery man; would love to know who he is.

[jay dubaya]

Another one for the pot ...

19th Hussars wore a collar badge very similar to the Green Howard's and the badge on the soldier above certainly appears to have a Princess' Coronet as opposed to a Kings Crown. Arm badge appears to be crossed swords so possibly 'best swordsman'. If this man is 19th Hussars the the photo must Pte date the amalgamation of the regiment during 1922

Jon

[squirrel]

2 Good Conduct badges - 6 to 12 years service. Marksman's proficiency badge. Pip, Squeak and Wilfred medal ribbons so picture is early 1920's.

[Dave1418]

Hi all

Shoulder title is 19H so the Hussars it is, the puttees are also wound from the knee down to the ankle.

regards

Dave

[Stebie9173]

I thought the Hussar Regiments were evenly numbered, and Lancers had the odd numbers?

Steve.

[Murrough]

I thought the Hussar Regiments were evenly numbered, and Lancers had the odd numbers?

Steve.

http://www.1914-1918.net/hussars.htm

[Stebie9173]

My apologies, I will stick to foot sloggers!

Steve.

[limerickdogs]

Thank you all!

This man is thought to be one of two people:

1) Joseph, b. 1866, joined North Staff. Regiment, served for 12 years, then the Royal Artillery for three years, then the Royal Garrison Regiment for two years, bringing us up to 1904. I have no military records for him after that date.

2) His son Robert, b. 1892, presumably served 1914-1918 only, we believe in the Army Service Corp. No service records survive. He had the two chevrons for good conduct, a skill at arms badge and had been promoted to Lance Corporal.

Of course it could be another family member, but only the above two would make most sense as they are father and eldest brother to the small boy in the photo. Now I am thinking it is neither of them!

Thanks very much for the input. I would be clueless otherwise.

[jay dubaya]

A surname would be useful

[limerickdogs]

McLoughlin

[johnboy]

The one who fought in WW1 will be the one in the picture. The other one would have been in his 50's.

[FROGSMILE]

McLoughlin and 19th Hussars.  Perhaps he had previously been in an Irish regiment and then transferred after 1922?  The watch fob appears to be a ‘budded’ Christian cross, of the kind a devout Roman Catholic might have use on a pocket watch in those days.  It’s a pity that the soldiers face was distorted by the photographic process, it’s as if he moved during the exposure.

 

 

 

 

Edited 27 February , 2021 by FROGSMILE

[Steven Broomfield]

4 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

McLoughlin and 19th Hussars.  Perhaps he had previously been in an Irish regiment and then transferred after 1922?  

 

Pedantically, if the picture post-dates 1922 he'd be in the 15th/19th Hussars, but (as we've discussed before) one squadron of the regiment would still wear 19th Hussars dress and appointments until the 1930's.

[FROGSMILE]

18 minutes ago, Steven Broomfield said:

 

Pedantically, if the picture post-dates 1922 he'd be in the 15th/19th Hussars, but (as we've discussed before) one squadron of the regiment would still wear 19th Hussars dress and appointments until the 1930's.

Yes Steven, the period after 1922 was one of some reorganisation across the Army.  The cavalry, Irish regiments, the Machine Gun School, the introduction of collar badges as standard on better tailored uniforms, along with the widespread wearing of WW1 medal ribbons, all took place at the same time as the retrenchment of defence expenditure.  It’s intriguing that the subordinate squadrons lasted as long as they did.