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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

help dating photograph


vonHarbar

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There are no medal ribbons visible so it is probably early, someone will come along and confirm when the 14/15 Star ribbons were issued, that should suggest a no later than date.

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Looking at the picture I would say that these are men of The Kings Liverpool Regt either 17th,18th, 19th or 20th Battalions. From their poses and surroundings and comparing them to other pictures, I would say that they are somewhere in England prior to their departure to France, so between December 1914 and November 1915. Regards, Bob.

Edited by Bob Davies
to add a date.
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Sorry Folks, ignore my last post.

20 minutes ago, Bob Davies said:

 

 

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Before I saw that Bob had withdrawn his comment, I had thought the same - Liverpool Pals, whose badge was the Eagle & Child, not the  Brunswick horse.  Can you give us a close-up scan from one of the clearer badges, and a shoulder title, too please?

D

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Man back row furthest left has goggles on his hat despatch rider perhaps. Man furthest right has a white square in front of his chest what could that be?

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It looks more like a construction or fatigue party to me. Note no weapons, jackets off, mixed dress (they've already been working), possible paint pot on right, axe (felling timber or logging?) goggles to protect eyes. The white square beats me. So he can easily be seen if dangerous work?

Acknown

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There appear to be a number of Territorial shoulder titles.

No Imperial obligation badges.

New recruits awaiting insignia?

 

Phil

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Some of the shoulder titles have a TF look about them, although no-one's wearing imperial service tablets (which suggests this wasn't taken in the very early months of the war). No wound stripes or overseas chevrons, or 14 star medal ribbons. I can't see any simplified versions of SD jacket. So all in all, there's a lack of specific, datable evidence. Which suggests (but nothing more) that we're looking at the first half of the war, up to around mid-1916 - although I'd heavily caveat that by saying that if this was simply a group who were training in UK and hadn't yet gone abroad, then you wouldn't necessarily see most of the distinctions I've mentioned.

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And NCOs have no medals/badges. So early-war recruits with instructors who had yet to serve overseas?

Acknown

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With no proof and little more knowledge I think the photo is pre overseas service. 

Some wear puttees, some don’t. Some have cap badges while others haven’t.

Altogether quite an informal photo, as far as I can tell through my bank holiday semi- drunken eyes none of the soldiers have even a trace of the ‘thousand mile stare’ associated with soldiers who had experienced the horrors of trench warfare. 

Finally, the uniforms look a bit too crisp for battle hardened troops.

 

Disclaimer to the above:- I may have been in the pub longer than anticipated.

 

Simon

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I think the chap in the middle with white shirt and braces is holding a mug. Perhaps the 'white square' is another mug side-on. So, fatigues over, our 1914 recruits are having a welcome tea break. It's easy to go off into flights of fancy .....

Acknown

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Spot on Acknown and the enamel mugs don't look like they have seen much action another pointer to an early date perhaps.

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Thank you folks.   only further info I have is that its soldiers of the 1/20th London Regiment, which looks about right as far as I can see the detail of cap badge.  So new recruits in UK c1915...? I reckon?!

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The 1/20th London Regiment landed at Le Havre in March 1915.

 

The 2/20th moved to St Albans in March 1915. Went on to Coggeshall (May 1915), Hatfield Broad Oak (July), Saffron Walden (October), Hertford (December) and Sutton Veny (January 1916).

 

The surroundings in the photo look rural.

Edited by HERITAGE PLUS
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  • 1 year later...
On 29/03/2018 at 08:31, vonHarbar said:

can any kind souls hazard a guess at dating this based on uniform etc.   they all seem quite young

Soldiers_20th_London_Regiment.jpg

 

 

 

This photo is of soldiers of the 1/20th London Regiment. It Likely taken around Arundel in 1913 or Hatfield Fall 1914. I have the original photo in my possession.

Edited by alkens
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8 minutes ago, alkens said:

 

 

 

This photo is of soldiers of the 1/20th London Regiment. It Likely taken around Arundel in 1913 or Hatfield Fall 1914. I have the original photo in my possession.

Photo below is Arundel 1913. In the original photo you see the drummer in the bottom right hand corner, in the Arundel photo he's front center.. So I pretty sure its either one of those dates. The drummer is my Grand Uncle. Make sure you visit 20thlondon.com for info regarding the 20th.

20th-marching-with-band-1913.jpg

Edited by alkens
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15 hours ago, alkens said:

Photo below is Arundel 1913. In the original photo you see the drummer in the bottom right hand corner, in the Arundel photo he's front center.. So I pretty sure its either one of those dates. The drummer is my Grand Uncle. Make sure you visit 20thlondon.com for info regarding the 20th.

20th-marching-with-band-1913.jpg

ah, thank you so much, will take a look

 

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