worlygigger Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 (edited) I have been led to believe that the soldier in the attached picture was Royal Field Artillery. The cap badge suggests 'NO.' There is nothing on his medal card to suggest that he was in another regiment before being assigned to the RFA. Would someone kindly have a look at this cap badge and identify the regiment please? Very important as the family who lent me the photo are sure it is "who they think it is." Edited 28 October , 2018 by worlygigger
Steven Broomfield Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 Difficult - can you zoom in on the badge? My first guess is Royal Engineers.
ss002d6252 Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 50 minutes ago, worlygigger said: I have been led to believe that the soldier in the attached picture was Royal Field Artillery. The cap badge suggests 'NO.' There is nothing on his medal card to suggest that he was in another regiment before being assigned to the RFA. Would someone kindly have a look at this cap badge and identify the regiment please? Very important as the family who lent me the photo are sure it is "who they think it is." Who do they think the man is ? Craig
worlygigger Posted 28 October , 2018 Author Posted 28 October , 2018 The family are sure that it is Stanley Charles Whatling of the RFA. Service No. 94121. Bombardier in the ‘B’ Battery of the 64th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. I think the only possible difference/error could be that it was his brother, though we don't know who he served with. I'm about to publish a book with this man part of the book so it is very important that the cap badge issue is resolved.
worlygigger Posted 28 October , 2018 Author Posted 28 October , 2018 Could it be Suffolk Regiment as he was born there and lived there?
johnboy Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 The most important issue is his identity. Where was he from and aprox year of birth
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 I don't think it's the RE. Looks a bit like Middlesex Regiment, but only a bit. It isn't Suffolk.
worlygigger Posted 28 October , 2018 Author Posted 28 October , 2018 Stanley Charles Whatling Service No. 94121. Bombardier in the ‘B’ Battery of the 64th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Son of Lee Whatling of Low Farm, Horham. By 1911, Stanley was working as a draper’s porter for Marshall & Snelgrove Ltd of Oxford Street, London. Died 14th November 1916 aged 21 years. Buried at LONGUEVAL ROAD CEMETERY. His descendants are sure that it is him but, as someone pointed out to me, the cap badge is not RFA nor does he wear the bandolier across his shoulder/chest. If he was wearing an RFA cap/badge. I'd be happy but the badge has put doubt into my mind and I don't want a case of mistaken identity in my new book. It is a risk that we all take when we publish the identity of a soldier in a photograph and one can only trust in the family's words etc etc.
worlygigger Posted 28 October , 2018 Author Posted 28 October , 2018 Hi Craig, There is more than one Whatling family in Horham at that time. Here is my man on the staff of Marshall & Snellgrove in London:
ss002d6252 Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 I think it could be the Suffolk when comparing this badge. Craig
worlygigger Posted 28 October , 2018 Author Posted 28 October , 2018 Thanks Craig, that looks like a fairly good match. What put me off was the fact that his medal card does not mention the Suffolk Regiment, only the RFA.
ss002d6252 Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 Looking at the war gratuity for #94121 tells us: Looking at similar service numbers it looks like he enlisted direct to the RA so no war time service in the Suffolks prior to the RA. #94126 was allocated 28 Aug 1914 for comparison. Craig
worlygigger Posted 28 October , 2018 Author Posted 28 October , 2018 (edited) I'm persuaded that he possibly enlisted with the Suffolk Regiment and then went into the Royal Field Artillery before he went to France. Could this explain why the medal card does not mention the Suffolks? I feel a little more confident that Stanley is Stanley from the photographic evidence of the badge. Edited 28 October , 2018 by worlygigger
ss002d6252 Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 (edited) 4 minutes ago, worlygigger said: I'm persuaded that he possibly enlisted with the Suffolk Regiment and then went into the Royal Field Artillery before he went to France. Could this explain why the medal card does not mention the Suffolks? Anyway I feel confident that Stanley is Stanley and I very much appreciate the help that is always given on this Forum. Thank you, all. The War Gratuity shows no service with anyone before the RA (unless it was pre-war). I'd say it's not Stanley. EDIT: The War Gratuity covered all service, not just overseas. Craig Edited 28 October , 2018 by ss002d6252
mancpal Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 If he didn’t serve overseas with the Suffolk’s then it wouldn’t appear on his MIC so I assume he transferred before overseas service. simon (looks like I’ve been beaten to it again)
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 I can't see it as Suffolk, the crown should be wide, with barely a gap between it and the tips of the laurel wreath. In the picture, the top blob is narrow, with a large gap to the laurel wreath. Additionally, there does only seem to be one 'tower' visible below the horizontal bar, not three. The horizontal bar seems fairly thin, whereas in the Suffolks' badge, the bar is pretty thick. Of course, the cap badge in the image is only 20 pixels wide, not enough to positively identify. The image posted by Craig (#12) is around 250px. Any chance of a high resolution scan?
worlygigger Posted 28 October , 2018 Author Posted 28 October , 2018 Unfortunately the pic is back with the family.
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 3 minutes ago, aim said: Essex Regiment? aim Essex is a better fit than Suffolk.
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 40 minutes ago, johnboy said: What was his brothers name? Herbert (b. abt 1893) & Ernest (b. abt. 1897) (Also Harry, (b. abt 1902)
kevinrowlinson Posted 28 October , 2018 Posted 28 October , 2018 There is a service record available for a Robert Valentine Whatling. RFA formally Suffollk Regt. From Horham later moving to London. Probable candidate if he fits in to the family. Kevin
worlygigger Posted 28 October , 2018 Author Posted 28 October , 2018 According to Taff Gillingham, it IS a Suffolk Reg cap badge. There were two Whatling families in Horham during the Edwardian period. Lee Whatling's boys were Herbert, Stanley and Ernest. George Whatling's boys were Edward, Robert, Arthur, Norton and Bertie. Stanley and Bertie were both casualties of the war but these families were not related. Ernest Whatling was definitely in France but the present-day family are certain that the photograph is of Stanley Whatling.
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