Guest LeeGreensall Posted 20 December , 2004 Share Posted 20 December , 2004 Can anybody help, the photo attached is of a William Greensall, i believe taken around C1918. Can anybody identify the unit he is with or possibly tell me a bit about the uniform. Is the stick he is holding a drill stick? thanks Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 20 December , 2004 Share Posted 20 December , 2004 Hi Lee. Can't identify the badge but someone will do I am sure. The "drill stick" is what you say it is but has little relevance other than a photographers prop. Many photographs include riding crops, sticks, canes etc etc. It gave the photograph a little interest. I would suggest this is his first outing in his uniform, note the creases and lack of any badges except (I thnk) shoulder insignia. His trouser / putee arrangement is quite unique in this type of photograph to my knowledge. Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LeeGreensall Posted 20 December , 2004 Share Posted 20 December , 2004 Hi Roop thought the stick might be a prop as i dont seem to see any visable rank, so must still be a private Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 20 December , 2004 Share Posted 20 December , 2004 Badge looks like the Royal Engineers - the apparently short shoulder titles seem to confirm this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 20 December , 2004 Share Posted 20 December , 2004 He does have a "freshly minted" look about him! Just one thing, though, gents - he would probably have owned the swagger stick. I don`t know if they were issue items though. Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 20 December , 2004 Share Posted 20 December , 2004 he would probably have owned the swagger stick Evening M13pgb, Not being a uniform expert myself could you enlighten further regarding swagger stick ?? Are you saying it was uniform for RE but self purchased as some items often were in some units. Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 20 December , 2004 Share Posted 20 December , 2004 All I am saying Roop is that lots of ORs did own them, but I`m not sure if they were issued - possibly private purchase. I don`t think the RE were any different from the other outfits in this respect. Like you, though, I`m no uniform/equipment specialist, so we`ll await more informed comment! Regards, Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 20 December , 2004 Share Posted 20 December , 2004 Hi "Swagger sticks" or walking out canes I think were originally a pre war item I don't know quite what the standing orders would have said, but I have always believed that they were a cunning device to stop "Idle" soldiers putting their hands in their pockets!. Our squeeky clean young man has a immediate post war look, perhaps off to the army of occupation, and I think I agree he is a Sapper. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 21 December , 2004 Share Posted 21 December , 2004 I thought that swagger sticks were to prevent idleness, too, Gareth. His uniform looks to be not long out of the QM`s store, but what indicates post-war? If it was common for ORs to carry sticks, one wonders if there was a regulation drill for them? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 21 December , 2004 Share Posted 21 December , 2004 Hi The "plus fours" look of the way the trousers are bloused over the putties, is not one often seen on wartime photographs, even on a young man having his picture taken for Mum, but it does become almost regulation after the war, and is the fixed look by the thirties. I do not have anything in print to confirm this I am only going by photos. So I could be wrong....Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 21 December , 2004 Share Posted 21 December , 2004 See what you mean, G. There is a certain, hard to define, difference between the way the trousers are worn post & during WW1. Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LeeGreensall Posted 21 December , 2004 Share Posted 21 December , 2004 Thanks guys, its nice to know he is possibly an engineer, at least i am following a tradition. If i find out any more about his unit in the short future i will post it here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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