Unknown Officers in old photo

[TomWW1]

Been in the family for years i think it was taken at giants causeway in Northern Ireland 

[Michelle Young]

I’m afraid the definition is  too poor for me to make out any details of the cap badge, and for me, colorisation adds nothing. Can we see the original please? 

[TomWW1]

Just now, Michelle Young said:

I’m afraid the definition is for me to make out any details of the cap badge, and for me, colorisation adds nothing. Can we see the original please? 

Sure here it is

[Michelle Young]

Some sort of naval outfit I’d say. 

[TomWW1]

Just now, Michelle Young said:

Some sort of naval outfit I’d say. 

I can’t see any cap badges so it’s hard to tell

[FROGSMILE]

27 minutes ago, TomWW1 said:

Been in the family for years i think it was taken at giants causeway in Northern Ireland 

They are not officers as there’s no sign of any rank markings.  They are wearing a corporate uniform of some kind, but I don’t recognise it.  It seems unlikely to be a form of ‘Kitchener Blue’ uniform issued to some volunteers pending the provision of proper British Army uniform, but there were considerable variations of these across Britain and Ireland, so it’s not completely impossible I suppose.  Their caps do not chime with that though, as they’d be quite expensive, and the most common type used for ‘Kitchener Blue’ was a simple folding field cap (sometimes described as a chip bag because of its shape).  The lower pockets are a utilitarian cargo type (bellowed), which is quite curious.  Might they be rail or tram workers, or perhaps engineers.

Edited 13 November by FROGSMILE

[TomWW1]

40 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

They are not officers as there’s no sign of any rank markings.  They are wearing a corporate uniform of some kind, but I don’t recognise it.  It seems unlikely to be a form of ‘Kitchener Blue’ uniform issued to some volunteers pending the provision of proper British Army uniform, but there were considerable variations of these across Britain and Ireland, so it’s not completely impossible I suppose.  Their caps do not chime with that though, as they’d be quite expensive, and the most common type used for ‘Kitchener Blue’ was a simple folding field cap (sometimes described as a chip bag because of its shape).  The lower pockets are a utilitarian cargo type (bellowed), which is quite curious.  Might they be rail or tram workers, or perhaps engineers.

I have absolutely no idea 

[FROGSMILE]

7 minutes ago, TomWW1 said:

I have absolutely no idea 

I’m fairly sure that they’re not soldiers.  The design of the uniform, the expensive cap, and the collar and tie combination isn’t commensurate with even an improvised military uniform.

Edited 13 November by FROGSMILE

[TomWW1]

Just now, FROGSMILE said:

I’m fairly sure that they’re not soldiers.  The design of the uniform, the expensive cap and the collar and tie combination doesn’t fit with even an improvised military uniform.

Oh okay

[GWF1967]

10 minutes ago, TomWW1 said:

Oh okay

I don’t think it’s the Giant’s Causeway either.  

[TomWW1]

Just now, GWF1967 said:

I don’t think it’s the Giant’s Causeway either.  

Not good news

[DavidOwen]

A reverse image search has found this - with some interesting comments on it 

 

[TomWW1]

11 minutes ago, DavidOwen said:

A reverse image search has found this - with some interesting comments on it 

 

yeah i posted that but all the leads hit dead ends

[FROGSMILE]

1 hour ago, DavidOwen said:

A reverse image search has found this - with some interesting comments on it 

 

Brilliant David, the Royal Naval Air Service, or Fleet Air Arm makes some sense and the caps would fit with that, but I’m puzzled by the lack of arm insignia.  I would defer to @horatio2 @KizmeRD and @RNCVR perhaps they might be able to help.

Edited 13 November by FROGSMILE

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

2 hours ago, GWF1967 said:

I don’t think it’s the Giant’s Causeway either.  

I'm no geologist, but if I went to the Giant's Causeway, I'd want to have some of those big black hexagonal basaltic stone pillars in shot.
So I'd say it could be anywhere - except the Giant's Causeway.

Edited 13 November by Dai Bach y Sowldiwr

[sdparker]

I think they might be RNAS mechanics in an airship squadron. Quite a few were needed to launch and recover an airship,

so they could all be the same rank in this picture.

Naval Airship stations were situated at several locations around the British Isles, including Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall,

Mullion in Cornwall, and Wexford in Southern Ireland. Also Milford Haven in Wales.

Regards

Geoff

[FROGSMILE]

2 minutes ago, sdparker said:

I think they might be RNAS mechanics in an airship squadron. Quite a few were needed to launch and recover an airship,

so they could all be the same rank in this picture.

Naval Airship stations were situated at several locations around the British Isles, including Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall,

Mullion in Cornwall, and Wexford in Southern Ireland. Also Milford Haven in Wales.

Regards

Geoff

Thanks Geoff, that’s a strong lead in the right direction I think.

[RNCVR]

2 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

Brilliant David, the Royal Naval Air Service, or Fleet Air Arm makes some sense and the caps would fit with that, but I’m puzzled by the lack of arm insignia.  I would defer to @horatio2 @KizmeRD and @RNCVR perhaps they might be able to help.

When I first set eyes upon this group photo I of course loked at their cap badges, which as others have commented on, are not very clear at all, but I was thinking they sure appear to be the red RN Class III (men not dressed as seaman) cap badge.  The smiling rating holding the pipe on the left & the rating in centre - their cap badges (in the non colorized photo) are clearest to me.  Their tunics would fit with this as well, however I have never seen FAA ratings wearing those huge hip pockets in the past.. I have no idea why no (visible) badges of rate or rank on their sleeves, they are certainly too old to be apprentices.

Edited 13 November by RNCVR

[RNCVR]

The red embroidered cap badge would be identical to the one this Supply PO is wearing. 

[FROGSMILE]

18 minutes ago, RNCVR said:

When I first set eyes upon this group photo I of course loked at their cap badges, which as others have commented on, are not very clear at all, but I was thinking they sure appear to be the red RN Class III (men not dressed as seaman) cap badge.  The smiling rating holding the pipe on the left & the rating in centre - their cap badges (in the non colorized photo) are clearest to me.  Their tunics would fit with this as well, however I have never seen FAA ratings wearing those huge hip pockets in the past.. I have no idea why no (visible) badges of rate or rank on their sleeves, they are certainly too old to be apprentices.

Yes Bryan it was the bellowed cargo pockets on the jackets and lack of any rate badges on the arm that threw me too.

[sdparker]

Here is a photo taken at Cranwell RNAS station, just before the amalgamation of the RNAS and RFC to become the RAF.

The mechanics are wearing the uniform with large pockets. My grand father is sitting on the ground, and is wearing the white

cap cover

Regards Geoff

[FROGSMILE]

4 minutes ago, sdparker said:

Here is a photo taken at Cranwell RNAS station, just before the amalgamation of the RNAS and RFC to become the RAF.

The mechanics are wearing the uniform with large pockets. My grand father is sitting on the ground, and is wearing the white

cap cover

Regards Geoff

Almost a perfect match.  I wonder if the subject photo relates to a seaplane station.

[aengland]

I am a geologist and (just a thought) it is not the rock you would normally link to the Giants Causeway (black regular hexagons of basalt lava).... I would say it isn't there because if you were there to have your photo taken you would take it with the iconic rock formation all around you..... wouldn't you?  Andrew

[MJM]

This is a photo of my Grandfather - he was a motor driver before he joined RNAS 4.11.1914 as a mechanic on armoured cars in France. He became a Petty Officer Mechanic and was on flying boats at RNAS Tresco.

His uniform is similar to the posted photo but his does not have the pouched pockets.

Not sure if this helps?

MJM

[FROGSMILE]

6 minutes ago, MJM said:

This is a photo of my Grandfather - he was a motor driver before he joined RNAS 4.11.1914 as a mechanic on armoured cars in France. He became a Petty Officer Mechanic and was on flying boats at RNAS Tresco.

His uniform is similar to the posted photo but his does not have the pouched pockets.

Not sure if this helps?

MJM

He’s wearing a Class III fore and aft rig, which was standard across the fleet.  It had a blue and a white version, black buttons on blue and white buttons on white.  The uniform with the pouched or bellowed pockets appears to be much more specialised and not mainstream.