BJB Posted 18 January , 2023 Share Posted 18 January , 2023 This is Richard Morrison, Born in Belfast in 1894 and enlisted (probably in Belfast) around 1913/14. His older brother was in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. I can find no military records that match this man's (my great uncle) personal data. He was a weaver prior to his military career. That looks like an Ulster Star on his breast pocket but would that be Military approved badge? There is also a family story of him joining the Royal Navy but I don't think this is a naval uniform. Your thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6RRF Posted 18 January , 2023 Share Posted 18 January , 2023 Its an army uniform. Identifying the regiment should be straightforward if someone can read that shoulder title. It looks like R [ ] [ ] The middle one isn't an I and the last one isn't an F which rules out the Inniskillings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Owl Posted 18 January , 2023 Share Posted 18 January , 2023 Judging by the lanyard I would say RFA {Royal Field Artillery} Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 18 January , 2023 Share Posted 18 January , 2023 (edited) They’re large lettered titles, nothing to do with fusiliers whose titles were invariably surmounted by a grenade and had smaller letters. The Inniskillings title was also uniquely quite long unlike all the other fusiliers. I think the letters look like RGA so perhaps he’s Royal Garrison Artillery. The star object is attached to the T-bar of his watch chain and so is a fob to make it easier to remove the watch and read it. Edited 18 January , 2023 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 18 January , 2023 Share Posted 18 January , 2023 50 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said: I’d say R.G.A. as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 18 January , 2023 Admin Share Posted 18 January , 2023 Another vote for RGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJB Posted 18 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 18 January , 2023 Was it acceptable to wear the Ulster Star badge on his uniform given its political nature? Barbara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 18 January , 2023 Share Posted 18 January , 2023 (edited) 6 minutes ago, BJB said: Was it acceptable to wear the Ulster Star badge on his uniform given its political nature? Barbara Many soldiers wore a variety of watch fobs during the war and it would depend upon the nature of his unit. If it were mixed, with men from diverse backgrounds, little attention would be paid as many wouldn’t know the significance of it. It would also depend upon the attitude of the officer commanding the unit and the policy he chose to exercise through his sergeant major. Edited 18 January , 2023 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJB Posted 18 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 18 January , 2023 Thank you for all this information. I am impressed by everyone’s expertise. Barbara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 18 January , 2023 Share Posted 18 January , 2023 (edited) 19 minutes ago, BJB said: Thank you for all this information. I am impressed by everyone’s expertise. Barbara The Royal Garrison Artillery served the largest, heavy guns, siege and coastal artillery, and so were a feature of all the then defended ports and fortresses in Ireland, both South and North. Edited 18 January , 2023 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aim Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 Shoulder lettering looks like KW[?] to me. Has anyone produced a complete alphabetical listing of these insignia? aim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 3 minutes ago, aim said: Shoulder lettering looks like KW[?] to me. Has anyone produced a complete alphabetical listing of these insignia? aim. To me they look like RGA as proposed earlier. The lower of his 3 tunic buttons also looks like RA. I cannot see the two above clearly to distinguish between RA or General Service. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 26 minutes ago, aim said: Shoulder lettering looks like KW[?] to me. Has anyone produced a complete alphabetical listing of these insignia? aim. Yes, Ray Westlake has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 20 minutes ago, charlie962 said: To me they look like RGA as proposed earlier. The lower of his 3 tunic buttons also looks like RA. I cannot see the two above clearly to distinguish between RA or General Service. Charlie Yes I too can see the RA button I think, albeit a little indistinct. We need one of our excellent genealogical detectives to research the name against RGA and RFA now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 (edited) FMP has a medical record for R. Morrison. 1533. 1st Lancashire Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. B.1894. Aged. 23. Admitted to No.34 Casualty Clearing Station. 4/1/1917 - G.S.W. L/Foot. 7/1/1917 he was transferred to 5th Ambulance Train. Frustratingly I cannot find an MIC or medal roll entry for that name/number combination. Edited 19 January , 2023 by GWF1967 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJB Posted 19 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 19 January , 2023 A little more on Richard Morrison Born in Belfast in May 1894. Mother Elizabeth, C of E. Single. Lived in Belfast so I assume joined up there. The photois around 1914 so start of the war. I have ruled out RGA # 4817 RFA #160698 is a possibility but can't find much on that reg # I have been using the Forces War Records site. Barbara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 (edited) 30 minutes ago, GWF1967 said: FMP has a medical record for R. Morrison. 1533. 1st Lancashire Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. B.1894. Aged. 23. Admitted to No.34 Casualty Clearing Station. 4/1/1917 - G.S.W. L/Foot. 7/1/1917 he was transferred to 5th Ambulance Train. Frustratingly I cannot find an MIC or medal roll entry for that name/number combination. That does seem odd given his admission to an ambulance unit and wound type that points to overseas operational service. Perhaps a slightly different name combination on the medal roll/MIC. Maybe some of our special detectives can help. 4 minutes ago, BJB said: A little more on Richard Morrison Born in Belfast in May 1894. Mother Elizabeth, C of E. Single. Lived in Belfast so I assume joined up there. The photois around 1914 so start of the war. I have ruled out RGA # 4817 RFA #160698 is a possibility but can't find much on that reg # I have been using the Forces War Records site. Barbara I’m positive that your photo shows an artillery soldier Barbara. There were three branches operating guns, RGA, RFA and RHA. Edited 19 January , 2023 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 7 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said: That does seem odd given his admission to an ambulance unit and wound type that points to overseas operational service. Perhaps a slightly different name combination on the medal roll/MIC. Maybe some of our special detectives can help. Odd indeed; I’ve tried spelling variants and searching by just the number. Still frustrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 12 minutes ago, BJB said: Richard Morrison Born in Belfast in May 1894. C of E. I have ruled out RGA # 4817 R. Morrison. 1533. posted above matches for dob and religious denomination. I also ruled out Richard Morrison - #48175. B. 1896. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave66 Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 Not many possibilities if you search M.I.C’s on ancestry using the search term artillery….that is if he served overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJB Posted 19 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 19 January , 2023 RGA#1533 lists residence as Liverpool so probably not our Richard. RFA#160698 gunner, is a candidate but I can't seem to find any other info on him. What does RHA stand for? Barbara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 39 minutes ago, BJB said: have ruled out RGA # 4817 Because? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Davies Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 9 minutes ago, BJB said: What does RHA stand for? Royal Horse Artillery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJB Posted 19 January , 2023 Author Share Posted 19 January , 2023 Because RC and NOK address "Ballycroane". Ballyroane was just outside Dublin. Richard was C of E and NOK was in Belfast. Richard seems to proudly wear the Ulster star on his uniform so I am supposing he would not be going anywhere near Dublin or Ballyroane at that time. Barbara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWF1967 Posted 19 January , 2023 Share Posted 19 January , 2023 (edited) 27 minutes ago, BJB said: RGA#1533 lists residence as Liverpool so probably not our Richard. What does RHA stand for? Barbara Can I ask where you found the record for 1533. residing in Liverpool please? It’s certainly possible for an Irish lad from Belfast to cross the water to Liverpool to live. R.H.A. is Royal Horse Artillery. Edited 19 January , 2023 by GWF1967 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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