Guest Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 Would anyone be able to identify the rank my great uncle held in WW1... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools mckenna Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 (edited) Looks like a 2nd Lieutenant Edited 27 March , 2019 by Jools mckenna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardenerbill Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 Looks like a single pip to me, so I would say 2nd Lieutenant. He also has 3 overseas service chevrons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 2nd Lieutenant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munce Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 9 hours ago, Gardenerbill said: Looks like a single pip to me, so I would say 2nd Lieutenant. He also has 3 overseas service chevrons. It looks like 4 chevrons (including the 1914 one at the bottome), especially in the second photo. Probably started the war in the ranks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardenerbill Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 The 23 minutes ago, munce said: It looks like 4 chevrons (including the 1914 one at the bottome), especially in the second photo. Probably started the war in the ranks? I think the bottom one you refer to is part of the Scottish pattern cuff rank insignia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munce Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 It wasn't that I meant, Mark, but looking at it again, I think you're right and I was just seeing things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalyback Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 Was "Under Officer" used in the great war? The bottom picture looks very like the modern use of the rank. Given his oversea chevrons he is a bit long in the tooth to be a one pip wonder. He is suited and booted but not yet holding a commission? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 Both photographs are later than Dec 1917. .... oversea chevrons issued from Jan 1918. I think that I see the 1914 red chevron showing, as we would expect, very dark. I agree that the subject is a second lieutenant. As an aside, I have seen a few sergeant majors [RSM in current money] of Highland regiments wearing the crown rank badge but also with a horizontal braid as an officer look-alike, in line with the officer tunic design. I will see if I can find an illustration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalyback Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 7 minutes ago, Muerrisch said: Both photographs are later than Dec 1917. .... oversea chevrons issued from Jan 1918. I think that I see the 1914 red chevron showing, as we would expect, very dark. I agree that the subject is a second lieutenant. As an aside, I have seen a few sergeant majors [RSM in current money] of Highland regiments wearing the crown rank badge but also with a horizontal braid as an officer look-alike, in line with the officer tunic design. I will see if I can find an illustration. Is the braid seen in other(English/Welsh) line regiments? Have you seen a single white/(possible blue) band in place of officer pip to denote officer in training during the great war? So many questions for the fish nor fowl men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMB1943 Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 Iainmac, Welcome to the GWF. That second photo is of extraordinary clarity and shading compared to the first. Has it been enhanced? Regards, JMB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools mckenna Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 (edited) 13 hours ago, iainmac said: d Edited 27 March , 2019 by Jools mckenna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 28 March , 2019 Share Posted 28 March , 2019 11 hours ago, Jools mckenna said: The upper three chevrons should be blue - it's only the orthochromatic film process that makes them look white: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 28 March , 2019 Share Posted 28 March , 2019 I think it might be useful to know your great uncle's name (and if possible, unit). It looks as if he was commissioned from the ranks late in the war, having served overseas since 1914. RM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools mckenna Posted 28 March , 2019 Share Posted 28 March , 2019 35 minutes ago, Andrew Upton said: The upper three chevrons should be blue - it's only the orthochromatic film process that makes them look white: I know but when I tried making it blue it didn't work very well. You can see a slight blue hint, if you look closely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 28 March , 2019 Share Posted 28 March , 2019 16 hours ago, Scalyback said: Is the braid seen in other(English/Welsh) line regiments? Have you seen a single white/(possible blue) band in place of officer pip to denote officer in training during the great war? So many questions for the fish nor fowl men. Not seen by me on other than Highland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalyback Posted 28 March , 2019 Share Posted 28 March , 2019 4 hours ago, Muerrisch said: Not seen by me on other than Highland. Thank you. I wonder what pushed the Scottish only to follow this distinction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 28 March , 2019 Share Posted 28 March , 2019 I need to preach caution: I cannot find my examples! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wainfleet Posted 29 March , 2019 Share Posted 29 March , 2019 He looks to me like a Cameron Highlander. The band on his shoulder strap denotes a Salonika division. If he is CH then this would make him 2nd Battalion in the 27th Division (or just possibly a dismounted Lovat Scout up to June 1918). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardenerbill Posted 29 March , 2019 Share Posted 29 March , 2019 57 minutes ago, wainfleet said: The band on his shoulder strap denotes a Salonika division. Hi Wainfleet, I have an interest in Salonika, so could you elaborate on why the shoulder strap links the man with Salonika? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wainfleet Posted 29 March , 2019 Share Posted 29 March , 2019 Hello GB, the divisions of the Salonika force were distinguished by coloured strips on their shoulder straps. The 10th, 22nd, 26th, 27th and 28th Divisions wore strips of green, black, blue, buff or yellow and red material respectively. The 60th Division doesn't seem to have used this scheme despite being the other infantry division of this force. My only slight doubt re this photo is why it shows the strip as light-coloured when yellow usually shows dark on photos of the time, but if the colour is buff then this might account for it. Or I might have got the cap badge wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 29 March , 2019 Share Posted 29 March , 2019 He looks like a Cameron Highlander to me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 30 March , 2019 Share Posted 30 March , 2019 On 27/03/2019 at 14:49, munce said: It looks like 4 chevrons (including the 1914 one at the bottome), especially in the second photo. Probably started the war in the ranks? Agree, can see a 1914 chevron too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardenerbill Posted 30 March , 2019 Share Posted 30 March , 2019 On 29/03/2019 at 16:21, wainfleet said: The 60th Division doesn't seem to have used this scheme despite being the other infantry division of this force Hi Wainfleet, Thank you for the clarification the 60th Division patch was I think a white bee on a black background, whereas all the others as you say were a simple colour stripe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Riley Posted 30 March , 2019 Share Posted 30 March , 2019 On 28/03/2019 at 19:52, Scalyback said: Thank you. I wonder what pushed the Scottish only to follow this distinction. It follows the shape of the gauntlet cuff of Scottish service dress (still made for officers in that fashion) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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