aak1957 Posted 10 January , 2018 Posted 10 January , 2018 On the right of the photo is William Greer. I believe the other person to be one of his brothers whom I would like to identify by dating the photo; and by the uniform. The photo was taken in Wishaw, Lanarkshire so it must be when both brothers were at home. Since William was killed in April 1918 it must be before then. William is wearing the MM ribbon so it must be after he was awarded that. William also has some stripes. Five Greer brothers (from Overtown, Castlehill and Waterloo – Cambusnethan) went off to war. James Buchanan Greer Highland Light Infantry (b 1882) kia 1917 John Buchanan Greer A&SH (b 1890) Humphrey Greer Royal Field Artillery (b1893) William Greer Royal Scots (b 1895) kia 11 April 1918 Abraham Douglas Greer Highland Light Infantry (b 1898) The basics are - James Buchanan Greer 39747 Highland Infantry - born 1882 kia 1917: I doubt it is James as he was 13 years older than William and the photo shows two people of similar age. John Buchanan Greer 51427 – born 1890. AS&H 9751 Scottish Rifles 27436 Royal Scots 51427. John registered his sons birth in Wishaw in January 1918, so obviously he was at home then. The birth certificate lists him as a Private with the 3rd Scottish Rifles. Humphrey Greer 225968 Royal Field Artillery born 1893. William Greer 335840 Royal Scots, born 1895, kia 11 April 1918. William is in the photo with his MM ribbon and stripes. He has a Pioneer badge on his left lapel. Abraham Douglas Greer, possibly 23593 Highland Light Infantry – born 1898. Can you identify the uniform and when the photo may have been taken? Many thanks in advance. These are my grandfathers cousins.
Mark1959 Posted 10 January , 2018 Posted 10 January , 2018 (edited) Looks like the A&SH to me. Glengarry, shape of cap badge and kilt all seem to fit. The only other possible of the options would be the Royal Scots. Similar glengarry and could be the cap badge. In either case it points to John. But await other opinions when did William get his MM? Edited 10 January , 2018 by Mark1959
HolymoleyRE Posted 10 January , 2018 Posted 10 January , 2018 Hi, So the date is perhaps somewhere between May 1917 (MM Gazetted in June 17) and his death in April 1918. William who had previous service in the HLI #7898 as you say sports a Good Conduct stripe and wound stripe (cannot see a WO casualty or wound record as yet). Andy
Mark1959 Posted 10 January , 2018 Posted 10 January , 2018 (edited) Medal Roll for John’s 1914/15 Star indicates he was with 1st A&SH when he went to The Western Front on 6/3/1915. Discharged to Z Reserve on 3/2/1919. He is in the roll of the 12 Bn Royal Scots. He got around a bit. BW and VM roll shows 1 and 12 A&SH, 11 and 1 Sco. Rif., 15 and 12 RS. Edited 10 January , 2018 by Mark1959
HolymoleyRE Posted 10 January , 2018 Posted 10 January , 2018 And also a recipient of an MM gazetted in 1919... Royal Scots number #51426 was allocated to a Scottish Rifles man in March 1918, whilst at an IBD. Just need to confirm the SR number issue date. Andy
Mark1959 Posted 10 January , 2018 Posted 10 January , 2018 The BW and VM Roll is in number order. It would seem 51425, 6, 7, 8 followed same path from 1Sco. Rif. to 15RS. This would imply they transferred at same time. So if that was at the end of March 1918 and in France and William perished only days later then the pic surely cannot be a John in a RS uniform.
HolymoleyRE Posted 10 January , 2018 Posted 10 January , 2018 (edited) Mark, Neither A&SH or SR, If a relative...? it would appear the SR 274## numbers seem to be issued in July 1916...I think they were sequential from the Regular Btn numbering rather than starting Service Btns starting afresh...? Edited 10 January , 2018 by HolymoleyRE
HolymoleyRE Posted 10 January , 2018 Posted 10 January , 2018 Bit more detail of the shoulder title may help, also does he have something on hi left breast pocket? Andy
Mark1959 Posted 10 January , 2018 Posted 10 January , 2018 5 minutes ago, HolymoleyRE said: Mark, Neither A&SH or SR, If a relative...? it would appear the SR 274## numbers seem to be issued in July 1916...I think they were sequential from the Regular Btn numbering rather than starting Service Btns starting afresh...? I agree with your logic. Looked at a lot of SWB records. So if William has his MM ribbon. It is not a Scottish Rifles outfit then seems it cannot be John. It is not an HLI glengarry so seems cannot be the 2 HLI brothers. And obviously not a RFA kit.
HolymoleyRE Posted 10 January , 2018 Posted 10 January , 2018 (edited) Brother Abraham ended up in the 5th Btn Gordon Highlanders, the effect of the camera film development wouldn't show the yellow lines, as such showing as a dark thread. #291985 The number appears to be a 1916 GH number, as there is record for 291997 transfered from the SR to the GH in 1916, and there are SWB for 2919## men discharged in 1917. So is it Abraham? Andy Edited 10 January , 2018 by HolymoleyRE
aak1957 Posted 12 January , 2018 Author Posted 12 January , 2018 Many thanks for the input. No one has mentioned Humphrey. Is there any possibility of assessing/eliminating Humphrey?
HolymoleyRE Posted 12 January , 2018 Posted 12 January , 2018 2 hours ago, aak1957 said: Many thanks for the input. No one has mentioned Humphrey. Is there any possibility of assessing/eliminating Humphrey? He was Royal Field Artillery, therefore the Uniform is not that over either a Gunner or Driver in the RFA. Andy 2 hours ago, aak1957 said: Many thanks for the input. No one has mentioned Humphrey. Is there any possibility of assessing/eliminating Humphrey? He was Royal Field Artillery, therefore the Uniform is not that over either a Gunner or Driver in the RFA. Andy
HolymoleyRE Posted 12 January , 2018 Posted 12 January , 2018 Please a chopped photo of other GH men, note the tartan, which would normally have a yellow thread running through it, but the effect if photo development turns it dark in the image, also in your photo the cap bashe in my opinion has voiding and similar curvature that of a GH scroll, wreath and antlers. Andy
aak1957 Posted 12 January , 2018 Author Posted 12 January , 2018 Andy, It certainly looks like as if the Gordon Highlanders uniform from your photo matches that of the soldier on the left. I also see a small badge, in the shape of a shield, on your right hand soldier, which could match the badge on the left breast pocket. Obviously that can't be confirmed as there is not enough detail in the photos. Do we know when Abraham left the GH? Was it after William was awarded his MM or before? If before, then perhaps he would have a different uniform. Also, I think William was a Lance-Corporal when he died. When was that awarded and should it be visible on the uniform?
HolymoleyRE Posted 12 January , 2018 Posted 12 January , 2018 (edited) So from what I can see Abraham was a GH from 1916 until the end if the war, William in the photo is wearing LCpl tapes, one on each arm. Andy Edited 13 January , 2018 by HolymoleyRE
aak1957 Posted 13 January , 2018 Author Posted 13 January , 2018 It strongly looks like Abraham then. Are you able to check if Humphrey was in the RFA for the whole of the war? There must be a chance he moved between regiments. Thanks.
Recommended Posts
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 accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now