Cap badge identification

[daveksmith]

Hi can anyone identify the cap badge. Understand the image is unclear but any suggestions appreciated.

Thank you in anticipation of your help

Dave

Edited 15 April , 2019 by daveksmith

[Jools mckenna]

Lincolnshire or Gloucestershire regiment.

[Acknown]

Glosters. Compare:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lincolnshire_Regiment_Cap_Badge.jpg and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucestershire_Regiment

Acknown

[Ron Clifton]

The bandolier cross belt suggests that it is more likely that he was in a Yeomanry regiment - unless the photo pre-dates 1908, or unless he was one his battalion drivers.

 

Ron

[Michelle Young]

Glosters without a doubt.

 

Michelle

[Acknown]

Interesting. The offset sticking-up bit (the Sphinx in the Glosters example) is quite distinctive. Could he have been a driver or some such? Mounted infantry?

Acknown

[Dragoon]

100% Glosters, horsed transport.

 

Chris

[FROGSMILE]

Agree with Chris, Gloucestershire Regiment and probably battalion transport section, although before 1908 web equipment was issued 03 bandolier equipment was standard issue for infantry on foreign service.

Edited 14 April , 2019 by FROGSMILE

[Dave1418]

Hi

I’d say the bandolier isn’t 03 but the earlier version with the square pockets which Toby Brayley has previously posted about in the equipment section 

Dave

[FROGSMILE]

1 hour ago, Dave1418 said:

Hi

I’d say the bandolier isn’t 03 but the earlier version with the square pockets which Toby Brayley has previously posted about in the equipment section 

Dave

 

Bloody good spot Dave, kicking myself here.  It is indeed the transitional 1901 Bandolier.  Used but a short time, it suggests an auxiliary unit, as regulars with full 02 SD and 1905 patt caps would have already received either, 03 bandoliers, or 08 web equipment if later.

Edited 14 April , 2019 by FROGSMILE

[daveksmith]

Thank you to all that have responded. I now believe that he was at one time attached to 5th Battalion Gloster Reg. Railway Co. 

Would this fit in with the uniform?

Thank you all again

Dave

[FROGSMILE]

37 minutes ago, daveksmith said:

Thank you to all that have responded. I now believe that he was at one time attached to 5th Battalion Gloster Reg. Railway Co. 

Would this fit in with the uniform?

Thank you all again

Dave

 

Yes it would.  The 5th were a TF Battalion and his apparent age and dress (bandolier, etc.) fit with that.

Edited 17 April , 2019 by FROGSMILE

[SteveE]

1 hour ago, daveksmith said:

I now believe that he was at one time attached to 5th Battalion Gloster Reg. Railway Co. 

The "Railway Co." detail suggests that your man was a National Reservist.  These men fell under the administration of the county territorial association and were attached to the local territorial battalion, most usually as a supernumerary company of the 2nd line battalion (so 2/5th Gloucestershire Regiment in this instance).  If still serving in that capacity in April 1916 then there is a good chance that your man was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps on its formation and served in one of the protection companies that were formed in the UK.

 

Steve

[daveksmith]

Once again thank you for response. Excellent information. 

[Acknown]

And all from one photo!

Acknown

[Gunboat]

On 17/04/2019 at 13:58, SteveE said:

The "Railway Co." detail suggests that your man was a National Reservist.  These men fell under the administration of the county territorial association and were attached to the local territorial battalion, most usually as a supernumerary company of the 2nd line battalion (so 2/5th Gloucestershire Regiment in this instance).  If still serving in that capacity in April 1916 then there is a good chance that your man was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps on its formation and served in one of the protection companies that were formed in the UK.

 

Steve

Would what appears to be good conduct stripes be a legacy from previous regular service? 

[FROGSMILE]

1 hour ago, Gunboat said:

Would what appears to be good conduct stripes be a legacy from previous regular service? 

 

Possibly.  At first they were not permitted in the TF, which had its own scheme of star badges inherited from the old Volunteer Force, but after the Military Service Act of 1916 introduced conscription good conduct badges (stripes) were permitted to be worn regardless of the type of battalion.

[Gunboat]

41 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

 

Possibly.  At first they were not permitted in the TF, which had its own scheme of star badges inherited from the old Volunteer Force, but after the Military Service Act of 1916 introduced conscription good conduct badges (stripes) were permitted to be worn regardless of the type of battalion.

That is really interesting thank you. Were the qualification requirements  transferable in the sense that anyone who had achieved stars in a TF battalion would be able to simply replace them with the badge/stripe. 

[FROGSMILE]

19 minutes ago, Gunboat said:

That is really interesting thank you. Were the qualification requirements  transferable in the sense that anyone who had achieved stars in a TF battalion would be able to simply replace them with the badge/stripe. 

 

That’s a very good question and I don’t know for sure, but based on my knowledge and experience of the British Army I doubt it very much.  The qualifying criterion for TF and Regular soldiers respective badges before the war were entirely different with an intent based on terms and conditions of service for part-time and professional soldiers, respectively. Those are entirely contrasting aims and it would have been very difficult to square that circle.  Once everyone was serving full-time on wartime service then the differences no longer applied and it was possible to have a standard set of criteria.

Edited 19 April , 2019 by FROGSMILE

[daveksmith]

Would the duties of a TF battalion be full time or would our man have continued in his occupation?

[FROGSMILE]

2 hours ago, daveksmith said:

Would the duties of a TF battalion be full time or would our man have continued in his occupation?

 

During a declared war they were full-time because wholesale mobilisation was carried out by act of parliament.