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Identifying Photos


Ann Chinsang

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Hi

I'm trying to identify, or even just work out Regiments for some photos that were in a large suitcase I inherited from my Grandparents and then parents.

Some of the photos I know a bit about as I can identify my Grandad in them, but the ones below, I dont know, or why my Gran - Grandad had them?  I'm hoping one is of one of my Great Uncles as I only have a small photo of him in my Grans locket.

The 3 young lads in front of a tent, the hat badge looks similar to the Border regiment, can anyone confirm this?

20211126_100734.jpg

20211126_100754.jpg

20211126_100804.jpg

20211126_100841.jpg

20211126_100848.jpg

20211126_100931.jpg

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12 minutes ago, Ann Chinsang said:

Hi

I'm trying to identify, or even just work out Regiments for some photos that were in a large suitcase I inherited from my Grandparents and then parents.

Some of the photos I know a bit about as I can identify my Grandad in them, but the ones below, I dont know, or why my Gran - Grandad had them?  I'm hoping one is of one of my Great Uncles as I only have a small photo of him in my Grans locket.

The 3 young lads in front of a tent, the hat badge looks similar to the Border regiment, can anyone confirm this?

20211126_100734.jpg

20211126_100754.jpg

20211126_100804.jpg

20211126_100841.jpg

20211126_100848.jpg

20211126_100931.jpg

Just a slight thought, how come this is under medals?

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13 minutes ago, Ann Chinsang said:

 

I'm trying to identify, or even just work out Regiments for some photos that were in a large suitcase I inherited from my Grandparents and then parents.

Who is your grandad and what details of his service can you confirm?

Craig

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Just now, ss002d6252 said:

Who is your grandad and what details of his service can you confirm?

Craig

To me, 3rd photo has different cap badge, correct?

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Picture 3 is Royal Army Medical Corps.

I think 1 and 3 are separate from the others and possibly the same man (boy).

Craig

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As Craig says the third photo is definitely RAMC.  The first photo looks reminiscent of the Border Regiment (Cumberland and Westmorland), but that’s based on a limited view on my phone screen.  Nonetheless, a star shaped badge and 1908 infantry equipment web belts would chime with that ID.  Is there any family connection with the border counties?  I think the last photo is Army Service Corps (ASC) and the last two in between seem to show images from the Middle East, either Egypt or Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq).

 

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B0197A15-9E96-424A-8973-8AF82D6F0F4E.jpeg

Edited by FROGSMILE
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Just now, Ann Chinsang said:

Sorry I thought I'd put it in General, my apologies

Easy done - I've moved it across anyway.

Craig

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34 minutes ago, ss002d6252 said:

Who is your grandad and what details of his service can you confirm?

Craig

Grandad was Royal Army Service Corps, I know he went out to possibly Africa and also I think he spent some time in Egypt? short of that not much more I'm afraid. 

28 minutes ago, ss002d6252 said:

Easy done - I've moved it across anyway.

Craig

Thank you. 

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It might be best to slightly re-order the pictures in the original post so that 1 & 3, and 2 & 5 are together.

 

1 minute ago, Ann Chinsang said:

Grandad was Royal Army Service Corps, I know he went out to possibly Africa and also I think he spent some time in Egypt? short of that not much more I'm afraid. 

What was his full name, date of birth and place of birth ?

Craig

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30 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

As Craig says the third photo is definitely RAMC.  The first photo look reminiscent of the Border Regiment (Cumberland and Westmorland), but that’s based on a limited view on my phone screen.  Nonetheless, a star shaped badge and 1908 infantry equipment web belts would chime with that ID.  Is there any family connection with the border counties?  I think the last photo is Army Service Corps (ASC)

 

Very much so, My Great Uncle Calvert served in the borders he was killed and Plogsteert (think that's spelt wrong) joined when he was 19 and killed at 23.  Gran never got over losing him and I know have her locket with the only picture of him in it, I have his medals but the death plaque was lost some time ago I think. 

30 minutes ago, ss002d6252 said:

It might be best to slightly re-order the pictures in the original post so that 1 & 3, and 2 & 5 are together.

 

What was his full name, date of birth and place of birth ?

Craig

Richard Harold Metcalfe (there about 5 generations of Richard Harold Metcalfes)

11th August 1889 33 Crooklands, Holm Head, Westmoreland

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4 minutes ago, Ann Chinsang said:

Very much so, My Great Uncle Calvert served in the borders he was killed and Plogsteert (think that's spelt wrong) joined when he was 19 and killed at 23.  Gran never got over losing him and I know have her locket with the only picture of him in it, I have his medals but the death plaque was lost some time ago I think. 

Well it seems very likely then that one of the three lads in that first photo is your great uncle.  It clearly shows a training camp very early in the war.  If we can determine the battalion(s) he served with it might be possible to plot a likely location for the photo.

Edited by FROGSMILE
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33 minutes ago, ss002d6252 said:

It might be best to slightly re-order the pictures in the original post so that 1 & 3, and 2 & 5 are together.

 

What was his full name, date of birth and place of birth ?

Craig

Richard Harold Metcalfe (there about 5 generations of Richard Harold Metcalfes)

11th August 1889 33 Crooklands, Holm Head, Westmoreland

I'm assuming you mean my Grandad?

Edited by Ann Chinsang
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30 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

Well it seems very likely then that one of the three lads in that first photo is your great uncle.  It clearly shows a training camp very early in the war.  If we can determine the battalion(s) he served with it might be possible to plot a likely location for the photo.

I've got a fair bit of info on Calvert, from what I have he was 8th Borders and did his training in Aldershot, enlisted 06/09/1914.  the below image is Calvert from the locket. I have no idea when or where it was taken though

Calvert Wilkinson..jpg

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Photo two appears to show a Sergeants’ Mess very late in the war going by the overseas service chevrons and medal ribbons, and I think the short, but large lettered shoulder titles, suggest ASC given the absence of any regimental arm badges above rank stripes. 

23 minutes ago, Ann Chinsang said:

I've got a fair bit of info on Calvert, from what I have he was 8th Borders and did his training in Aldershot, enlisted 06/09/1914.  the below image is Calvert from the locket. I have no idea when or where it was taken though

Calvert Wilkinson..jpg

He’s wearing hospital blue beneath a great coat so it was taken whilst he was recovering from wounds.  He’s not among the lads in the first photo so they are probably other family members, or as a longer shot his friends.

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9C44C3F5-C746-4512-9F60-5C5E9BF821A4.jpeg

Edited by FROGSMILE
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29 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

Photo two appears to show a Sergeants’ Mess very late in the war going by the overseas service chevrons and I think the short, but large lettered shoulder titles, suggest ASC given the absence of any regimental arm badges above rank stripes. 

He’s wearing hospital blue beneath a great coat so it was taken whilst he was recovering from wounds.

 

30 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

Photo two appears to show a Sergeants’ Mess very late in the war going by the overseas service chevrons and I think the short, but large lettered shoulder titles, suggest ASC given the absence of any regimental arm badges above rank stripes. 

He’s wearing hospital blue beneath a great coat so it was taken whilst he was recovering from wounds.

 

30 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

Photo two appears to show a Sergeants’ Mess very late in the war going by the overseas service chevrons and I think the short, but large lettered shoulder titles, suggest ASC given the absence of any regimental arm badges above rank stripes. 

He’s wearing hospital blue beneath a great coat so it was taken whilst he was recovering from wounds.

 

30 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

Photo two appears to show a Sergeants’ Mess very late in the war going by the overseas service chevrons and I think the short, but large lettered shoulder titles, suggest ASC given the absence of any regimental arm badges above rank stripes. 

He’s wearing hospital blue beneath a great coat so it was taken whilst he was recovering from wounds.

Thats interesting as he was wounded from the records transfered back to Boulogne then to the UK  and ended up for a time at the Lord Derby Hospital Warrington  then sent back to the front when he was released. 

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Calvert was wounded in July 16 and sent back to England. He was back in France in March 17, so the picture in the locket is between those dates.

Craig

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7 minutes ago, Ann Chinsang said:

 

 

 

Thats interesting as he was wounded from the records transfered back to Boulogne then to the UK  and ended up for a time at the Lord Derby Hospital Warrington  then sent back to the front when he was released. 

Well as Craig says that fits with a clearly defined period for the locket photo.

To recap it seems that your photos relate to service in three different parts of the Army, the Border Regiment, the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Army Service Corps.  Whoever served in the latter appears to have achieved senior non-commissioned rank.

Edited by FROGSMILE
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32 minutes ago, ss002d6252 said:

Calvert was wounded in July 16 and sent back to England. He was back in France in March 17, so the picture in the locket is between those dates.

Craig

I had always wondered about that photo as the uniform didnt look 'right' to me, that now explains it all, thank you so much

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33 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

Well as Craig says that fits with a clearly defined period for the locket photo.

To recap it seems the photos relate to service in three different parts of the Army, the Border Regiment, the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Army Service Corps.  Whoever served in the latter appears to have achieved senior non-commissioned rank.

Borders was one of my Great Uncles, the RAMC, I truly don't know, perhaps just a photo Gran was sent? Army Service Corps is my Grandad, if the last photo is ASC then looking at it closely it looks rather like my Grandad back row far left, its the moustache, Dad said he looked like Hitler with it! Photo below is my Grandad and he has stripes

Grandad in uniform WW1.jpg

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4 minutes ago, Ann Chinsang said:

Borders was one of my Great Uncles, the RAMC, I truly don't know, perhaps just a photo Gran was sent? Army Service Corps is my Grandad, if the last photo is ASC then looking at it closely it looks rather like my Grandad back row far left, its the moustache, Dad said he looked like Hitler with it! Photo below is my Grandad and he has stripes

Grandad in uniform WW1.jpg

Yes I think your Granddad must be the connection with ASC.  The three Border regiment lads must either have been friends of your great uncle or perhaps more likely other family members.

16 minutes ago, Ann Chinsang said:

I had always wondered about that photo as the uniform didnt look 'right' to me, that now explains it all, thank you so much

There is an excellent explanation of the history behind hospital blue here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/goseemakedo.wordpress.com/2017/12/05/hospital-blues/amp/

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4 minutes ago, Ann Chinsang said:

Borders was one of my Great Uncles, the RAMC, I truly don't know, perhaps just a photo Gran was sent? Army Service Corps is my Grandad, if the last photo is ASC then looking at it closely it looks rather like my Grandad back row far left, its the moustache, Dad said he looked like Hitler with it! Photo below is my Grandad and he has stripes

Grandad in uniform WW1.jpg

This picture is of a Corporal - a stepping stone to higher ranks.

I'd say ASC as well for the last picture, and that certainly looks like him at the far left.

(I didn't want to mention the Adolph look - but it's certainly true !)


Craig

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34 minutes ago, Ann Chinsang said:

I had always wondered about that photo as the uniform didnt look 'right' to me, that now explains it all, thank you so much

Perhaps you could pencil the details you’ve learned on the back of the photos Ann, else generations into the future some family member might ask the same questions.

Edited by FROGSMILE
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