Photo of Canadians of various units in front of Church ruins - UK?

[force136]

Hi

I acquired this photo some time ago from a junk shop in Marmora, Ontario Canada. 

I thought it was interesting because the men are from different units and some have

cloth distinguishing insignia. 

 

I was wondering where this might have been taken. Not sure if we have many cathedral ruins in Canada so

suspect likely taken in the UK. 

 

Anyway maybe someone out there knows - not the most detail but???

 

Regards

 

Ken

[Simon R]

I think it could be Fountains Abbey, North Yorks.

Edited 27 April , 2020 by Simon R

[Simon R]

Huby's tower, North end of North transept - foreground archaeology now either excavated or covered over.

Not a great photo, taken 2010 at Fountains - hopefully useful.

[Moonraker]

Nice match, Simon.

 

1920s archive film

 

Now that's been settled, I hope Ken won't mind if I nudge the discussion on a bit.

 

The abbey is very close to Ripon Camp, which could accommodate 30,000 troops; an estimated 350,000 men passed through it during the war.

 

There are some very good WWI photos of the camp here.

 

Ripon Camp - a brief history

 

Are the men really Canadians?  There were Canadians at Ripon, and they are included in a memorial. (After the Armistice there was a shooting affray at Ripon in which Canadian engineers and railway troops fired off 150 rounds at each other - without injury.)

 

Most of the men in the photograph look mature and well set, compared with the average recruit or front-line soldier.

 

Any clues from the uniforms?

 

Presumably the civilians are local worthies.

 

Moonraker

[Simon R]

Moonraker's link to WWI photos is very useful - I've never seen those before; and, hey presto, pics. of Fountains Abbey towards the end of the sequence.

 

The clergy must surely be Ripon Bishopric 14-18, or perhaps Ripon camp minister(s)?

 

Note convalescent solider front right, fourth row.

 

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

7 minutes ago, Simon R said:

Note convalescent solider front right, fourth row.

Front row, fourth from right?

[Simon R]

If I only had a brain!

Front row, fourth right.

Edited 28 April , 2020 by Simon R

[Andrew Upton]

I don't think that's a convalescent soldier - whatever he's wearing despite being open collar with shirt and tie also has chest pockets. It looks far more like standard officer or similar SD in khaki to me than hospital kit, which would be as below:

 

 

Edited 29 April , 2020 by Andrew Upton

[Moonraker]

Any ideas where he might be holding a stick - as is the third man on his right? (I guess that the youngish civilian has his umbrella with him.)

[Andrew Upton]

1 hour ago, Moonraker said:

Any ideas where he might be holding a stick - as is the third man on his right? (I guess that the youngish civilian has his umbrella with him.)

 

Officers routinely carried long sticks of various types - a privilege/symbol of rank: