Identifying soldiers

[kelly1425]

Hi all, 

 

I am hoping you can help me. I am trying to match up the photographs of my ancestors with the records I have. Three of my great-uncles fought in the Great War: 

 

James Harley: 

Born: 1896 

Regiment no: 1779 (7th Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders) 

Rank: Pte

Enlisted: 03 Feb 1913

Entry into France: 15 Dec 1914 

Discharged: 12 Dec 1915 

Discharge Reason: Wounds 

Died: 21 Jul 1932 in Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland of pulmonary tuberculosis. 

 

Norman Harley: 

Born: 1900 

Regiment no: 542392 (Canadian Expeditionary Force, Cyclist Platoon) 

Rank: Pte

Enlisted: 17 Feb 1917

Was not sent overseas, instead remained in England as had originally lied about his age. 

Discharged: 31 Dec 1918 

Returned to Canada - unknown what happened to him next

 

Alexander Harley: 

Born: 1894 

Regiment no: 35435 (CASC 1st DT?) 

Rank: Pte/ Lance Corporal 

Enlisted: 22 Sept 1914

Theatre of War: France 

Discharged: 26 April 1919

 

I have attached here the military records for each of the brothers and the pictures I have two men in uniform. Would anyone be able to suggest which record might match which brother from the uniforms? 

 

Thanks for your help in advance. 

 

Kind regards

 

Kelly

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander Harley record.pdf

Normal Harley's Military Service Record.pdf

James Harley - Medal Roll.pdf

[JMB1943]

Kelly,

 

Welcome to the right place for answers to your questions.

I am certainly not a badge/ uniform expert, but common sense would tell me that the kilted Soldier is James Harley ( Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders).

The people who know will be along shortly to ID the uniform shown in the first photo.

 

Regards,

JMB

[kelly1425]

Thanks very much JMB, I thought that might be that case with the kilted soldier. 

 

[Andrew Upton]

The chap seated viewers right looks to have Canadian Maple Leaf collar badges up on his SD jacket, so Norman Harley seems possible, but looks a little old...

[Neale1961]

I think the young man standing in photo 1, is the same person in photo 2 ( not in uniform) but older. What is the round badge on his lapel? This might help to identify him. Could it be a silver war badge?

 Have you considered that the seated man in uniform in photo 1, is not any of the brothers. I agree, he seems too old for someone born in 1900.

[gordon92]

I have some some skepticism about identifying the kilted man in the 2nd photo as a soldier of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.  He appears to have collar badges and a tablet style shoulder title that is definitely not A&SH but looks more like a narrow CANADA tablet.  Both of these characteristics suggest to me that he is a Highland soldier of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  Further, the day sporran he is wearing was used pre-war by only one British unit (that I know of), the 9th Royal Scots.  However, these leather day sporrans were prolifically used in the Highland battalions of the CEF.  All in all, I am inclined to say that this man is a Highland soldier of the CEF.

[mancpal]

I think Neale might have it right with the silver war badge, possibly with a safety chain added as if lost they couldn’t be reissued.

 

Simon