Colin Read Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 My grandad, Henry was born on 28th December1883 in Enfield Middlesex England. All I know about him is that during the Great War he was a Batman. He survived the war dying 25th February 1949 in Enfield. I have photos but I can’t upload them via an iPad. Any information would be very welcome. Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Read Posted 27 December , 2019 Author Share Posted 27 December , 2019 See image Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin DavidOwen Posted 27 December , 2019 Admin Share Posted 27 December , 2019 Hello Colin and welcome to the forum. Do you have any other family details for him, such as his wife's name? There are a couple of service records on FMP for Henry John Reads from London and both show the wife's maiden name etc. so one of those may be your man (no guarantees!). Good luck with your research. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 (edited) Hello Colin The uniform indicates that he belonged to one of the mounted services. Can you get an enlarged version of his cap badge, with greater contrast? That would help to identify his regiment. Ron Edited 27 December , 2019 by Ron Clifton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 27 December , 2019 Admin Share Posted 27 December , 2019 Could it be a cross of St Andrew on the badge? @FROGSMILE can you help please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 (edited) 52 minutes ago, Michelle Young said: Could it be a cross of St Andrew on the badge? @FROGSMILE can you help please? Yes, I think it’s perhaps the WW1 era Scottish Horse cap badge, Michelle. There were two patterns of badge, one with crown (and SA battle honours) and one without. The Yeoman appears to be wearing the latter. It seems odd that a man from London should be wearing the badge of a Scottish auxiliary unit reliant on local recruiting though? Edited 27 December , 2019 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 27 December , 2019 Admin Share Posted 27 December , 2019 Thank you Frogsmile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 (edited) 25 minutes ago, Michelle Young said: Thank you Frogsmile. I’m looking to see what else it might be, as it doesn’t seem quite right. One thing that I think is likely is the Yeomanry connection, it’s not like any regular army cap badge, unless perhaps it’s a star shaped badge with the two side ‘points’ bent backwards to fit the curved shape of the cap, which was a common act and distorts the photographic view. In that case it might be ASC. Edited 27 December , 2019 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 The nearest one I can find is Scottish Horse Yeomanry: http://www.britishmilitarybadges.co.uk/products/scottish-horse-yeomanry-regiment-cap-badge-2.html Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 (edited) A Henry John Read, who was born on 28 Dec 83 served in the ASC (Horse Transport). His Record of Service is on Ancestry: click here. He married Ruby Mary Causton in Aug 15. Cap badge in photo is mystery ... to me! Acknown Edited 27 December , 2019 by Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Acknown said: A Henry John Read, who was born on 28 Dec 83 served in the ASC. His Record of Service is on Ancestry: click here.He married Ruby Mary Causton in Aug 15. Cap badge in photo is mystery ... to me! Acknown The more I look the more I think it’s the ASC badge with the side points bent backwards, which then makes sense of the overall shape. For the original poster: this suggests that your forebear was trained as a horse drawn wagon “driver” (hence the Spurs) of the Army Service Corps (ASC). All soldiers might be selected to be an officers servant (batman) at that time. In such a role, involving cleaning the officers equipment, making tea, fetching meals, running errands, etc. he would develop quite a close relationship with the officer concerned. It generally meant that he was excused most other duties and all routine parades apart from those also attended by the officer. Edited 27 December , 2019 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 (edited) I don't think he served overseas. Nothing in Record and no MIC. Acknown Addition: Reading the Record, I believe he was posted to No. 2 Reserve HT Depot at Blackheath on enlistment in Sep 17. Perhaps he was the batman to the OC there. Edited 27 December , 2019 by Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave66 Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 The 1939 census has a Henry j Read, same 28th Dec birth and also a woodcarver...wife ruby, so looks to be same man as Acknown’s suggestion. https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=sfo1&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&dbid=61596&gsfn=Henry john&gsln=Read&gsfn_x=NN&gsln_x=1&cp=11&msbdy=1883&msbdy_x=1&qh=4AAhq4acOacizG%2BKzIbu5g%3D%3D&new=1&rank=1&uidh=l37&redir=false&gss=angs-d&pcat=35&fh=2&h=10025095&recoff=&ml_rpos=3 Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 7 minutes ago, Acknown said: I don't think he served overseas. Nothing in Record and no MIC. Acknown Addition: Reading the Record, I believe he was posted to No. 2 Reserve HT Depot at Blackheath on enlistment in Sep 17. Perhaps he was the batman to the OC there. Great detective work, that fits neatly I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corisande Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 There is a fairly full Ancestry Tree - click - that has the date of death as given by OP, and includes the Service Record quoted in this thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Read Posted 27 December , 2019 Author Share Posted 27 December , 2019 7 hours ago, Ron Clifton said: Hello Colin The uniform indicates that he belonged to one of the mounted services. Can you get an enlarged version of his cap badge, with greater contrast? That would help to identify his regiment. Ron This is the same image slightly clearer. As for more images I’ll have to contact other family members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Read Posted 27 December , 2019 Author Share Posted 27 December , 2019 7 hours ago, Acknown said: A Henry John Read, who was born on 28 Dec 83 served in the ASC (Horse Transport). His Record of Service is on Ancestry: click here. He married Ruby Mary Causton in Aug 15. Cap badge in photo is mystery ... to me! Acknown Yes this is correct, he married Ruby Mary Causton and had 5 children. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Read Posted 27 December , 2019 Author Share Posted 27 December , 2019 6 hours ago, Dave66 said: The 1939 census has a Henry j Read, same 28th Dec birth and also a woodcarver...wife ruby, so looks to be same man as Acknown’s suggestion. https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=sfo1&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&dbid=61596&gsfn=Henry john&gsln=Read&gsfn_x=NN&gsln_x=1&cp=11&msbdy=1883&msbdy_x=1&qh=4AAhq4acOacizG%2BKzIbu5g%3D%3D&new=1&rank=1&uidh=l37&redir=false&gss=angs-d&pcat=35&fh=2&h=10025095&recoff=&ml_rpos=3 Dave. Yes he was a wood carver. I still have his chisels and some of the furniture he made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Read Posted 27 December , 2019 Author Share Posted 27 December , 2019 Thank you for all your help. It’s very interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 December , 2019 Share Posted 27 December , 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, Colin Read said: Thank you for all your help. It’s very interesting On the basis of the information that you have provided and the photograph there is no doubt that his unit was Army Service Corps and his rank ‘Driver’. His duty as a batman was that carried out by many men during an era of deeply demarcated social stratas that was reflected in the Army of the day. Edited 27 December , 2019 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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