Royal Marine Light Infantry (photograph)

[Guest]

I am researching my great uncle, Leonard Noah Thompson, who served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry (1st R.M. Bn. R.N. Div.). I have his service record, medal card, etc. but I also have this group photograph, which shows him and ten of his colleagues at what I can only assume is a training camp. Due to a strong family resemblance, I believe that Leonard is furthest right on the back row. His service record shows that he was recruited in December 1915, attached to the Plymouth Division in February 1916 and left for the war the following June, so I guess the photograph was taken sometime between February and June 1916.

 

I realise it’s a long shot, but I would dearly love to identify some of his colleagues in the photograph. Can anyone on here offer any suggestions as to where I could go from here?

 

[horatio2]

Welcome to the GWF, Mike_W.

I think you are correct that this image was not taken during his time in1/RMLI. He probably joined that battalion, with a batch of 40 reinforcements, on 19 November 1916 at Bernaville. The battalion was then on route march back to the mouth of the Somme, to billets at Ponthoile and Morlay, after the battle of the Ancre 13-15 November.They moved back to the Ancre in mid-January 1917 where he was killed in action a month later fighting towards Miraumont The image does not suggest a winter scenario (and 1916/17 was a pretty bad one.).

Before that he was probably at the Base Depot in France awaiting draft 25 September to 16 November 1916. There is a good chance that the photo was taken in that period.

Before that (28 June to 24 September 1916), in 1st RMLI Reserve Battalion while awaiting draft to the BEF, he would have been in hutted accomodation at Blandford Camp, Dorset.

During his time at the Recruit  Depot, Deal (9 December 1915 to 23 February 1916) and in subsequent training at HQ RMLI Plymouth (24 February to 27 June 1916) he would have been in barracks.

So, as explained, my money is on RND Base Depot, Calais with other RMLI reinforcements. Identifying the others would be very difficult, if not impossible, unless someone recognizes them.

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply, and for filling in some of the details to add to the basic information I've found up to now. I agree it's extremely unlikely that I'd be able to identify the others. I suppose it's just possible that someone somewhere may be researching one of them and have others photos to compare. Worth a try...

[58 Div Mule]

It's a nice photo, made more interesting to me given the possible location. I'm researching a number of RMLI who passed through RND Base Depot, Calais. Can't help with identification though!

 

58 DM.