Lewis Gun soldiers

[DavidR142]

one of the soldiers I am researching ,James Sheil, was born 1894 in Stafford. His picture with wife,Helena, shows on his left arm his Lewis Gun proficiency badge, his Wound stripes and Good conduct chevron. Is there anything to suggest his Regiment or was the Lewis Gun widely available to many regiments.

[Ron Clifton]

Hello David

 

The Lewis gun was issued to virtually every infantry battalion during the war, after the withdrawal of Vickers gun sections to form the Machine Gun Corps.

 

A good start would be to search the medal index cards, which are available online, to look for a soldier named J Sheil. It might also be advisable to search on alternative spellings of the surname, Shiel or Shell.

 

Is there any indication on the back of the card which might suggest a location?

 

Ron

[Colin W Taylor]

David,

 

Normally one might only concentrates on the soldier in the image but could that be a sweetheart broach on the lady's chest - it looks like it could be a South Staffordshire Regiment knot to me? A close up might help.  Alternatively it might have been given to her by another family member.

 

It might be one to consider when searching Medal Index Cards as Ron suggests.

 

Regards

 

Colin

 

Edit:

 

Could be this chap: https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=ETT1120&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&db=medalrolls&gsfn=james&gsln=sheil&gsfn_x=NN&gsln_x=NP_NN&cp=11&qh=Y86Y/EObNdZgK4jJncG4/Q%3D%3D&new=1&rank=1&redir=false&uidh=616&gss=angs-d&pcat=39&fh=1&h=3621918&recoff=9 10&ml_rpos=2

 

 

North Staffords have a similar badge with the same knot on it.

Edited 20 October , 2018 by Colin W Taylor

[mancpal]

agree with the staffs sweetheart brooch, north or south. Of course it could have been given by a relative who had no connection with the soldier featured

 

Simon

[DavidR142]

Great information given here. Very much appreciate your contributions, gentlemen.