laballard Posted 12 May , 2019 Share Posted 12 May , 2019 My brother found this postcard photograph of a British soldier from WW 1 in my Father's scrapbook. My Father was killed in an accident in 1961 so I can't ask him. I suspect that it is a picture of my Great Uncle, but I don't know for sure. I am including he pic ture and what was written on the back of the postcard. Can someone help me unscramble the numbers and writing on the postcard and help me verify that it is my Great Uncle, Richard Alfred Ballard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMB1943 Posted 12 May , 2019 Share Posted 12 May , 2019 Hello & very welcome to the Forum, The post-card shows “AIF” = Australian Imperial Force. Was your great uncle down-under at the time of the Great War? I’m sure that an expert will be along soon to comment on the cap-badge. Good luck with the research. Regards, JMB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancpal Posted 13 May , 2019 Share Posted 13 May , 2019 Surely that isn’t an Aussie cap badge? Looks more like RE to my (very) amateurish eye. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddell Posted 13 May , 2019 Share Posted 13 May , 2019 Agree with Royal Engineers for that cap badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rksimpson Posted 13 May , 2019 Share Posted 13 May , 2019 Hi Not AIF badge. Back of card, to my eyes, says 09727 Ballarat 12 a 91f (not sure AIF?? why not capital A?). regards Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianmorris547 Posted 13 May , 2019 Share Posted 13 May , 2019 (edited) It is a RE badge There is a service record for a Richard Ballard RE. 241124 later WR 20023. He was from Fulham. Other than that I have two other Ballards on my 1916 RE Index. 3301 later 548692 Henry Ballard and 41964 Douglas S Ballard. Brian Edited 13 May , 2019 by brianmorris547 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark1959 Posted 13 May , 2019 Share Posted 13 May , 2019 To make it easier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 13 May , 2019 Share Posted 13 May , 2019 (edited) Hi, Hopefully the relatives listed in the service file Brian found may help to laballard to rule 241124 Ballard in/out as a family member. Image sourced from Findmypast Regards Chris Edit: I'm guessing that what appears to read as 'some were in Canada' should be taken to be 'somewhere in Canada'. Edited 13 May , 2019 by clk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMB1943 Posted 13 May , 2019 Share Posted 13 May , 2019 Well, how my eyes jumped to (false) conclusions...... Regards, JMB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 14 May , 2019 Share Posted 14 May , 2019 (edited) Great Quality photograph. I have just taken off a few of the scratches and re framed him Edited 14 May , 2019 by Martin Feledziak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMB1943 Posted 14 May , 2019 Share Posted 14 May , 2019 Ballarat, as in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia ? I think that the OP needs to provide more info, such as whether his father had relatives in Australia. Regards, JMB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 14 May , 2019 Admin Share Posted 14 May , 2019 Surely back of card says Ballard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open Bolt Posted 14 May , 2019 Share Posted 14 May , 2019 Martin, good work on the photograph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 14 May , 2019 Share Posted 14 May , 2019 2 hours ago, Michelle Young said: Surely back of card says Ballard? I agree, Ballarat a misinterpretation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Feledziak Posted 14 May , 2019 Share Posted 14 May , 2019 Nice job Jools. Colour does bring out something special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools mckenna Posted 14 May , 2019 Share Posted 14 May , 2019 1 minute ago, Martin Feledziak said: Nice job Jools. Colour does bring out something special. Thanks, couldn't have done it without your repaired version though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kath Posted 14 May , 2019 Share Posted 14 May , 2019 Jools, suddenly he's there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laballard Posted 21 May , 2019 Author Share Posted 21 May , 2019 Thanks to all in helping me work on this mystery. The photo enhancements are wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laballard Posted 22 May , 2019 Author Share Posted 22 May , 2019 Richard Alfred Ballard was born in Lancashire to Edward and Alice Ballard. He immigrated to th United States in 1919. Thanks to everyone for looking into this for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laballard Posted 4 July , 2019 Author Share Posted 4 July , 2019 On 14/05/2019 at 11:18, Martin Feledziak said: Nice job Jools. Colour does bring out something special. Thanks again for the photo enhancement. My daughter (her husband is in the US military) noticed that the soldier in my Father's picture appears to have a rank on his shoulder. Any thoughts on that. Thanks Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools mckenna Posted 4 July , 2019 Share Posted 4 July , 2019 It's his brass unit shoulder title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laballard Posted 5 July , 2019 Author Share Posted 5 July , 2019 Thanks. That helps a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now