PhilB Posted 7 January , 2005 Share Posted 7 January , 2005 This is 2/Lt G.B.Smith, friend of Tolkien, as a supernumerary 2/Lt with the O&BLI, before transfer to 19 LF. Why would he have those collar adornments? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max7474 Posted 7 January , 2005 Share Posted 7 January , 2005 Those are red cloth staff 'gorget' patches showing he was serving on the staff of a headquarters. They were worn by all staff officers but this practice has ceased and are today worn by all full colonels and above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 7 January , 2005 Author Share Posted 7 January , 2005 Thanks, Max, I rather suspected that. It`s just that he joined the O&BLI as a supernumerary 2/Lt in Dec 14 and left them in mid 15 to the LF. There is no suggestion in the book (Tolkien and the Great War) that he served other than as an ordinary subaltern with the O&B. He certainly doesn`t appear to have served outside the battalion structure. Were there any posts inside a battalion that would have merited the tabs? Phil B PS. He died after being struck in the right arm and buttock by fragments from a bursting shell. The wounds were considered slight, but 2 days later he developed gas gangrene in the thigh wound. He was operated on but sank quickly and died at 03.30 on 3/12/16 at Warlincourt. Age 22. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krithia Posted 8 January , 2005 Share Posted 8 January , 2005 Is it possible for a close up photo of the collars as I believe that officers in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry wore buttoned cords instead of metal collar badges. It may well be staff tabs as max7474 has mentioned, but I have my suspicion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max7474 Posted 11 January , 2005 Share Posted 11 January , 2005 Good point. The photo is not clear but should there not be a reconisable patch either side of the piping then the collar piping and button would be regimental embellishments instead of a collar badge. This would mak sense and I stand corrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 11 January , 2005 Author Share Posted 11 January , 2005 Best I can do, gents! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewThornton Posted 12 January , 2005 Share Posted 12 January , 2005 No, these are not Staff Gorget patches. Officers of The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry did not adopt collar badges but instead wore a regimental button and gimp on their uniforms, service dress included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 12 January , 2005 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2005 Thank you, gents. Problem solved! Did any other regiment dispense with collar dogs? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krithia Posted 12 January , 2005 Share Posted 12 January , 2005 Here's another photo of officers from the Oxs & Bucks taken in Arras c.1917. From memory I believe the British Guards regiments (Coldstreams, Grenadiers, etc) in WW1 also didn't wear collar dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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