Lance Bombardier? Naming The Unkown

[The Inspector]

Hi

Margaret Ann Pinchin b.13.1.1893 m. Albert E Biggs b.14.5.1884 ? Margaret had an older brother William Thomas Pinchin (14.12.1887, enlisted 11.12.15) who served in the RMLI No PO/ 2298. and  in Oct 1926 received the LSGC medal. In 1927 was a Police Constable when he married Louise Eleanor Saunders.

 Arthur Geoge Reynolds, on the memorial, was also in the RMLI Portsmouth Div. same as William. Both lived South Wraxall.....looking

Margaret's father, James 1849-1926, was married twice  first to Eliza Cullimore 1846-1883 and second to Elizabeth Ann Evans 1856-1931.............

Regards Barry

Edited 20 November , 2019 by The Inspector

[empirestate89]

Hi Guys,

 

No this is definately my great grandmother, and definately not her brothers William or Francis, so definately not that kind of relation. And per inscription on back and the story passed down, I dont doubt hes her fiance. Its interesting that Arthur served with William, of the two brother on the memorial Arthur seems interesting to have been RMLI but have been attached to the RGA, and was unmarried. I dont know if it would be worth attempting to find the Reynolds surviving siblings decendants on the off chance one may have photos?

Edited 14 November , 2019 by empirestate89

[empirestate89]

I have a little bit more information.

 

I found a longer list, from the church at South Wraxall, that ive attached. There are three gunners of the RFA listed, "C Pinnock" who has a brother T, "R Tucker" and "A Boulter" These men didnt die in the war, but served. Perhaps one could have died shortly after at some point. I must admit Im unsure who H Pinchin is,

 

Also have a photo of Arthur & Johns Sibling Samuel Reynolds who served and survived.

[The Inspector]

Hi

Looked at the above online yesterday. I am trying to find the descendants, it pays off frequently.. How about Corpl.  Herbert Pinchin 200821 Somerset L I 1/4th. Award roll Cpl (L/Sgt) Pte. 2629 Star roll........Although MIC/ award roll Disch 18.6.20.

Regards Barry

Edited 14 November , 2019 by The Inspector

[The Inspector]

Hi All

The surviving Samuel James Reynolds, photo above had 7 children, the second was Rowena Sylvia May Reynolds 1921-2015, Here she is.Interestingly she is wearing a badge around her neck..RFA. Probably in remembrance of her uncle William John. Has a resemblance to Margaret Pinchin !   I wonder if they were related.

Regards Barry

Edited 14 November , 2019 by The Inspector

[charlie962]

Just now, The Inspector said:

.RFA

RAF !!

[jay dubaya]

Surely that’s RAF

[The Inspector]

Hi Should have gone to that opticians, however she does have the look of Margaret , or is it time to go to bed?

Regards Barry 

[battiscombe]

For comparison i attach an image of an RHA man [H Bty RHA - in Germany 1919], with said RHA ball buttons... so he is RHA I am reasonably sure. although cloth shoulder titles slightly puzzling - I have yet to see an example on a wartime RHA photo..

 

There was a Driver Albert Biggs in the RHA, [served in France 1915 with 1 Cav Div Ammunition Column] but he seems to have come from Bootle

Edited 15 November , 2019 by battiscombe

[empirestate89]

Yes no link that I know of between Margaret and Rowena.

 

That RHA uniform is certainly much more similar than some of the others, it has the small collar, and as you say the round buttons.

 

Based on the snippets from each of you sofar, I think pieces of a puzzle could be coming together.

 

Im building a story in my head, that could make sense.......

 

1 - Perhaps this is as mentioned, a RHA uniform,

2 - Theory was given earlier that the stood up photo could be first, and the sat down second

3 - Based on the Uniform and ball buttons, This could confirm, he is RHA in the stood up photo

4 - The war has started, and he is either called up from reserve, or moved, and finds himself in the RFA, he then has an RFA band sewn onto his RHA jacket, possibly because of the rush of the war, or to save money. - I did read by the end of 1914 there was a shortage of Field Artillery, which could explain a move?

5 - Because he is moved/signed up to a new service or because he has trained as a signalman, he has lost his unofficial (Corporal) promotion/appointment he had in the RHA, and drops a rank, losing the stripe in his sat down photo.

6 - He either trains as a Signalman with the RFA, or after the RHA photo and is possibly then moved to the RFA because of that ability. The NAM states a specialist such as a signalman would hold the rank below Corporal, at WWI this being Bombardier, which makes sense as theyd be too busy to be leading the team back at the front.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

Edited 16 November , 2019 by empirestate89

[MaxD]

The stripes are mis leading.  In the Great war era  Royal Artillery a bombardier (and from 1918 a lance bombardier) wore one stripe and the man with two was called a corporal - you are showing the post 1920 situation.

 

You seem to give no weight to the proximity of a barracks in Trowbridge holding RHA batteries to South Wraxall that I highlighted earlier.  Whatever, your call.

 

Max

Edited 16 November , 2019 by MaxD

[empirestate89]

57 minutes ago, MaxD said:

The stripes are mis leading.  In the Great war era  Royal Artillery a bombardier (and from 1918 a lance bombardier) wore one stripe and the man with two was called a corporal - you are showing the post 1920 situation.

 

You seem to give no weight to the proximity of a barracks in Trowbridge holding RHA batteries to South Wraxall that I highlighted earlier.  Whatever, your call.

 

Max

 

Well yes the gentleman must obviously have been stationed somewhere, and if he was in the RHA certainly at the start, Trowbridge would seem the most likely place. Im unaware of there being a specific list of soldiers stationed there in 1914, it would be massively useful if that existed, Im unsure how else that could help us track him down?

 

I'll edit my post above about ranks, which ever the lowest two being, he went down upon changing to a signalman it would seem.

 

I have been looking at FMP Royal Artillery Attestations today, using a 1876-1896 birth, putting Bradford On Avon gave 5 men, Trowbridge 26, some with more detail than others. Ive been trying to look through collections on Ancestry too, nothing cast iron in anything sofar though.

 

Edited 16 November , 2019 by empirestate89

[MaxD]

More pedantry I'm afraid -  a man trained in the Royal Artillery as a signaller was not a signalman.  He was a Gunner by rank (or higher if promoted) or perhaps a Driver (who also had the bombardier/corporal ranks when promoted).

 

There will unfortunately be no lists of RHA men stationed at Trowbridge in 1914.  B Battery (around 100 total) was stationed there for the 1911 census:

Ancestry:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/2352/rg14_11970_0007_34?pid=60606049&backurl=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D2352%26h%3D60606049%26tid%3D%26pid%3D%26usePUB%3Dtrue%26_phsrc%3DdVB1126%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=dVB1126&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.99709725.2099699498.1572945737-1555101898.1539262208#?imageId=rg14_11970_0006_34

 

Frankly I believe there is no way to track him down, there are no clues apart from the photograph.  Imagine if you will that he was in B Battery, the list was 1914 and you knew the photo was 1914, where do you start with the 100 odd men?

 

Max

[empirestate89]

Well I think going from an unknown photo, that this story is something to go on.

 

if you did have a list of names you knew were there, then I dont believe out of 100 youd find many or more than one, who had been in the RHA as a corporal, had then moved to the RFA, gone down a rank and become a signaller. And died at the extreme latest 1922. We know he seeved a minimum 2 years as he had a good conduct stripe. All of which im sure would be in the mans service record, even if temporary positions.
 

its isnt hopeless and it isnt a no, its just finding men who were in the RHA before the war & trying to learn more about their service to determine who it may be. We already know where, roughly when, and how his service went. 
 

i can but hope this particular mans record survived.

 

If you think my hope to identify him is impossible then thats your opinion, I will try my best & prefer to be positive. Im already greatful to know more than I did.

[MaxD]

You are absolutely right of course.   You have been searching for answers to this puzzle for a long time so my view on the possibility/impossibility of the task is irrelevant.  Just sorry I (and the many others who have contributed), haven't got you much nearer a solution.   Can only wish you good luck and admire your tenacity!

 

Max 

Edited 17 November , 2019 by MaxD

[empirestate89]

Hes definately a needle in a haystack, but I know alot more than I did thanks to everyone chipping in, and Im really greatful for that.

 

At least I know what Im looking for now, as opposed to before, as I search for snippets throughrecords, and maybe one day Ill get there :-)

 

Thanks guys

[Cuddles]

On 12/11/2019 at 11:03, johnboy said:

Possibly a driver RFA Wearing spurs

 

On 12/11/2019 at 14:01, jay dubaya said:

As highlighted by battiscombe above he's sporting ball buttons on his tunic which strongly suggests Royal Horse Artillery, I believe the cloth shoulder tab to be RHA with no county affiliance so a regular and not a TF soldier and the coloured slip on will denote which battery he served with. 

 

J

I thought RHA because of the buttons and the indistinction of the middle letter as either an “F” or a “G”.  Spurs?  Well if it looks like a duck?

[MaxD]

Sorry to come back with yet another Eeyore type note but I don't think anyone has pointed out that some 60% of service records (those which would show promotions/qualification detail) were lost in WW2 to bombing and perhaps you weren't aware of this??  Thus of the 1589 RHA men on the CWGC site, only 635 would have survived so your task is minimised a little.

 

Max

[The Inspector]

Hi All,

I refer to post 16. John William Reynolds Gnr. 48102 RGA 116th Heavy Battery, died. 8.11.18 who is the same man as John William Reynolds 83687 RRAH & FA Pension Records on Ancestry. This man was baptised William John Reynolds. on 29.4.1894. Pension records show prev. service in "RMLI..invalided". Attested on 19.8.14. Disch. 22.10.14..Not Likely etc. BUT his record states "Not being likely to become an efficient soldier. This man is an old soldier.He is insubordinate being well educated is a bit of an ? Ass ? - lawyer- He is a very bad influence in the Barrack room among young soldiers." Therefore discharged from 157th Batt. RFA. He obviously signs up as Gnr 48102 RGA

We know that Margaret Pinchin's brother, William , also served in  the RMLI. As Reynolds came from South Wraxall is it not possible that he and Margaret Pinchin were very good friends? ...still looking..

Regards Barry 

 

Edited 19 November , 2019 by The Inspector