Chinthe Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Hi, Looking to date the attached photograph of a young Henry Wilson Iles of the R.G.A. I can not identify his rank which would allow me to date the photo. He ended up as a Lt Colonel, mostly India, Burma & Hong Kong, Started pre WW1 and as a 51 yr old in France 1916 if his medal card is accurate, died in 1920 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin DavidOwen Posted 17 May , 2021 Admin Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Moved to Soldiers as more appropriate and hopefully more useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan24 Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 (edited) He was the OC of 62 HAG which landed in France on 13.09.1916. He had the Lt. Col. Rank by that date. They took over the batteries from 23 HAG which included 125 HB. See war diary WO95/394/3 Edited 17 May , 2021 by Alan24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 (edited) He appears to be a Lieutenant going by his unadorned cuff knot, although it was standardised after 1902, when the sabretache was also abolished. Ergo assuming the photo is 1901 at the latest he is a senior subaltern. Edited 17 May , 2021 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 (edited) 26 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said: He appears to be a Lieutenant going by his unadorned cuff knot, although it was standardised after 1902, when the sabretache was also abolished. Ergo assuming the photo is 1901 at the latest he is a senior subaltern. He was in Burma (Campaign Medal) 1889 but not wearing ribbons in photo (Roll adds Huzarra 1888) IGSM Clasps Burma 1887-89, Huzara 1888, NE Frontier 1891 Kanes tells us he was Lt 1885-1895 So I suggest photo late 1880s Edit-- IGSM with clasp Burmah Burma 1889-92 was authorised AO 154 of 1893-- which he also had. Edited 17 May , 2021 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 32 minutes ago, Alan24 said: He was the OC of 62 HAG which landed in France on 13.09.1916. He had the Lt. Col. Rank by that date His MIC says he first landed France 5/9/16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan24 Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 On 18/05/2021 at 04:17, charlie962 said: His MIC says he first landed France 5/9/16. OK, The WD says he arrived at Havre 13.9.16. Perhaps he'd been somewhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Just now, Alan24 said: I can only think that the MIC is in error. not for the first time. - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan24 Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 1 minute ago, charlie962 said: not for the first time. - Maybe correct...just updated my post. But Havre would seem a sensible place to disembark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, charlie962 said: He was in Burma (Campaign Medal) 1889 but not wearing ribbons in photo (Roll adds Huzarra 1888) IGSM Clasps Burma 1887-89, Huzara 1888, NE Frontier 1891 Kanes tells us he was Lt 1885-1895 So I suggest photo late 1880s Edit-- IGSM with clasp Burmah Burma 1889-92 was authorised AO 154 of 1893-- which he also had. There’s something about his appearance that suggests to me a date around 1890, but no earlier, although it’s just instinct and experience of other photos from that period really, as there’s nothing in the photo that specifically pins that down. Edited 17 May , 2021 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chinthe Posted 20 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 20 May , 2021 thanks you all so much, all your info was new to me so greatly helps bring in to focus part of his life - Quite a number of new leads to investigate which is much appreciated- I shall have to look up HAG (is it Honourable Artillery Company !!!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock1418 Posted 20 May , 2021 Share Posted 20 May , 2021 6 minutes ago, Chinthe said: I shall have to look up HAG (is it Honourable Artillery Company !!!). I'm thinking Heavy Artillery Group - but I'm not a gunner so quite likely to be, and happy to be, corrected! ;-) M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan24 Posted 20 May , 2021 Share Posted 20 May , 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Chinthe said: have to look up HAG (is it Honourable Artillery Company !!!). No. HAC is completely different! HAG = Heavy Artillery Group. At some points they were also known as Heavy Artillery Brigades. They were a collective (mixture) of RGA Siege and Heavy Batteries which were grouped together for strategic purposes. At this time [22.09.1916] the newly formed 62 HAG comprised of: 117 Heavy Battery 125 Heavy Battery 130 Heavy Battery 150 Heavy Battery 1st Canadian Heavy Battery ...which were transferred from 23 HAG on 22.09.1916. Other RGA batteries came and went as the need arose, as time went on. Lt. Col. H.W. Iles was the Officer Commanding 62HAG, so basically had overall responsibility for the batteries within his group. Some of the batteries would be targeting German batteries i.e. on 'Counter Battery' work, Other heavy batteries would be providing barrages in support of infantry advances, if there were Siege batteries in the group, they would be targeting railway lines, dumps and roads etc. behind German lines. It's worth downloading the 62 HAG War Diary in my earlier post (which is free at present) if you want to see how it worked. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/48942439d5a345c9b5b19549fb0ef130 Edited 20 May , 2021 by Alan24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chinthe Posted 20 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 20 May , 2021 Many thanks - of course HAG not HAC - yes will download the war diary as suggested.. thanks, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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