Drew-1918 Posted 3 August , 2018 Share Posted 3 August , 2018 (edited) Hello, I would be very grateful if anyone has any ideas about what is going on in the attached photograph. I do not have any biographical details except to say that on the back of the card it says, “Yours Sincerely, Frank, 23/6/19”. I believe he is a 7th London man. However, I have never seen such a design in cloth on the epaulette, for the London Regiment (I have seen it on slip-ons with other units). It is similar to the more familiar ‘T/(№)/LONDON’ metal shoulder titles. At one point I wondered if it was ‘C/7/LONDON’ for cadet, but in conversation with a friend, decided it looked more like a serif ‘T’. Perhaps even more of interest is the incongruous badge above his left breast pocket. What does that signify? Many thanks for any help you may be able to give, Chris Edited 3 August , 2018 by Drew-1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 4 August , 2018 Share Posted 4 August , 2018 For a start - that's a Canadian pattern 7-button SD tunic he's wearing, not one of the standard 5-button British jackets... http://www.kaisersbunker.com/cef/tunics/ceft01.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew-1918 Posted 4 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 4 August , 2018 That’s interesting, Andrew, thanks very much. I am not sure what to make of that. Regards, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragoon Posted 4 August , 2018 Share Posted 4 August , 2018 Hello Chris, Definitely 7th London's, Grenade cap badge, T/7/London title. The badge above his pocket looks like a RFC propeller?? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew-1918 Posted 4 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 4 August , 2018 Thanks for that, Chris. The propeller certainly is confusing. Cheers, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragoon Posted 5 August , 2018 Share Posted 5 August , 2018 This one has me stumped! A 7th London's private, with a, what I can only say is a propeller, or a O for observer with propeller blades either side?? Can't find the badge anywhere online or reference books on the Royal Flying Corps!! This certainly is a good one Chris, hopefully someone will answer it, probably with ease, I'd love to know. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew-1918 Posted 5 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 5 August , 2018 Thanks very much for going to the trouble of looking into it for me, much appreciated. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrmh Posted 7 August , 2018 Share Posted 7 August , 2018 Similar to RCAF WW2 wings. https://www.kijiji.ca/v-art-collectibles/city-of-toronto/rcaf-royal-canadian-air-force-badges-wwii-ww2/1309080683?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew-1918 Posted 7 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 7 August , 2018 Very interesting, thanks a lot. This photo continues to baffle me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 8 August , 2018 Share Posted 8 August , 2018 Well, I just found this listing online: "A Victorian 7th Battalion (Fusiliers) Pre-1885 Canadian Militia Cap Badge " That would fit a lot better with the Canadian tunic than the London Regiment. I am really not convinced the last word on the embroidered title is London either. Still can't help on the breast badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrmh Posted 8 August , 2018 Share Posted 8 August , 2018 Seventh Regiment, Fusiliers of London, Canada http://contentdm.ucalgary.ca/digital/collection/cmh/id/38124 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrmh Posted 8 August , 2018 Share Posted 8 August , 2018 (edited) So he appears to be an Observer? in or attached to: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-flying-corps/ Edited 8 August , 2018 by Jrmh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 8 August , 2018 Share Posted 8 August , 2018 50 minutes ago, Jrmh said: So he appears to be an Observer? in or attached to: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/royal-flying-corps/ The RFC observer badge is as below. Interestingly, the Canadian Militia 7th Regiment, Fusiliers - as posited by Andrew - were a London, Ontario unit. Cheers, GT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew-1918 Posted 8 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 8 August , 2018 (edited) Thank you so much for all your help everyone. This is all very interesting indeed. Please excuse the short response as just off out the door to France for a couple of days. Regards, Chris Edited 8 August , 2018 by Drew-1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrmh Posted 8 August , 2018 Share Posted 8 August , 2018 Air Mechanic 1st Class?: http://www.rafweb.org/Ranks-Uniform/Ranks7.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragoon Posted 8 August , 2018 Share Posted 8 August , 2018 The shoulder title is definitely T/7/LONDON. I don't think Canadian units wore T on their titles? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 8 August , 2018 Share Posted 8 August , 2018 8 minutes ago, Dragoon said: The shoulder title is definitely T/7/LONDON. I don't think Canadian units wore T on their titles? Chris I agree. It's a really odd pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew-1918 Posted 8 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 8 August , 2018 (edited) Just a further bit of information: From Canada in Flanders, by Lord Max Aitken Beaverbrook, Sir Charles G. D. Roberts I think they left the 2nd and were moved to the 3rd Canadian Division, but I am not sure on this point and have only briefly looked at this. There is clear evidence of conscious copying and borrowing from British tradition, perhaps this was simply another thing they copied from the metal London titles they had seen. Were the “7th London Fusiliers” ‘territorial’ soldiers? I am finding it hard to confirm this. In additon, we can only see the last half of “London”. Perhaps there was another few letters in front. Regards, Chris Edited 8 August , 2018 by Drew-1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 8 August , 2018 Share Posted 8 August , 2018 Could the T in fact be a C, as in ‘Canadian 7th London’? The curvature of the top letter looks as if that might be a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragoon Posted 8 August , 2018 Share Posted 8 August , 2018 I really don't think it's a C, the straight bit on it is too long, and the bottom bit would be more curled. The 3rd and 4th letter of London are in line with the 7, so nothing would be written before that, if that makes sense. I do still believe this chap is British, 7th London's. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew-1918 Posted 8 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 8 August , 2018 You could be right. i considered that, all weighed-up, there can’t be much in front of the London, but I thought there was an outside chance of, perhaps, an abbreviated “O.”, for Ontario etc. Just a possibility though. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragoon Posted 9 August , 2018 Share Posted 9 August , 2018 Did this Canadian unit even wear the same badge as the 7th London's? The badge shown is Victorian. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew-1918 Posted 9 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 9 August , 2018 I haven’t had chance to look at this properly yet: Seventh Regiment of Fusiliers, London Canada Not meant to be for or against, just further information. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragoon Posted 9 August , 2018 Share Posted 9 August , 2018 It's got everyone stumped! Even the badge forum https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68892 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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