WINDSOR383 Posted 4 February , 2006 Share Posted 4 February , 2006 thomas cuthbert McGeachy my great uncle servrd in the MGC from 1915-18 as his medal card & MGC Certificate records him as a Private army number 60640. the problem i have is oyher pictures of thomas show him wearing a highlander type uniform with LCpl rank can any kind person identify the unit or give me some advice. the photo shows thomas standing on the right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 4 February , 2006 Share Posted 4 February , 2006 Hello, looks a bit like some photo's I have seen of Terratorials of Highland Light Infantry. I've seen them wear both types of Scottish head dress. I will look and see if i can find futher information. Regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 4 February , 2006 Share Posted 4 February , 2006 It's not something like the Lovat Scouts, is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted 4 February , 2006 Share Posted 4 February , 2006 I think they are HLI and possibly 9th Battalion HLI. Passing the numbers through the SNWM gives some HLI and 1 Tyneside Scottish, for example, Details Surname HAMILTON Firstname David Service Number 60657 Date Death 25/11/1917 Decoration Place of birth Irvine Ayrshire Other formerly S/15359 G. High. SNWM roll MACHINE GUN CORPS Rank Pte Theatre of death F.& F. Aye Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 5 February , 2006 Share Posted 5 February , 2006 Hello, I think the photo shows memebrs of the 9th Battalion and the 6th Battalion The Highland Light Infantry. And probably members of another HLI Terratorial unit. The 9th and 6th HLI usually wore kilts, but at the start of the war there were shortages so not everyone got one straight away. Or there could be other reasons for them not wearing the kilt, Horse transport section being one, etc. The 6th Bn wore the Blue Bonnet with the diced edge with HLI cap badge, the 9th wore a dark blue/black plain glengarry with a badge that looks the same in shape as a Black Watch badge. Some of the group look like they are wearing TF shoulder titles, but it is hard to say. The belts seem to be a mix of P1908 and P1914. Do you have any clearer photos of the cap badge ? or can you blow the detail up a bit ? His service in the HLI might not be listed on his MIC. I've a relative who served in the North Scottish RGA before going to France and being killed, his service with the N. Scottish RGA is recorded in his entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War, but not on his MIC or Medal roll. Regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patesian Posted 6 February , 2006 Share Posted 6 February , 2006 I concur with latest comments: 60637 60642 60643 were all Glaswegians of the HLI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WINDSOR383 Posted 6 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 6 February , 2006 Thank you for the information, your help is very much appreciated, just to confirm would thomas have transfired to the 9TH battalion HLI, after the war due to the LCpl rank. regards stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 6 February , 2006 Share Posted 6 February , 2006 Thank you for the information, your help is very much appreciated, just to confirm would thomas have transfired to the 9TH battalion HLI, after the war due to the LCpl rank. regards stu. Hello, The photo looks more like an early war photograph [1914-15]. It's possible that his LCpl rank is just a Local Rank and not an official rank. This sort of thing still happened in the army when I served 10 years ago, the fellow was a gunner but was made up to LBdr while we were on a short posting, when we returned to our unit he reverted back to a Gnr. Regards, Stewart. ps does he have a connection with the Glasgow area ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WINDSOR383 Posted 6 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 6 February , 2006 Hi Stewart, thanks for replying again, yes thomas lived in glasgow, i have a second picture which shows the rank of full Cpl but no cap or hat to ID the regiment. regards stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 6 February , 2006 Share Posted 6 February , 2006 Stewart, I agree they mainly look like HLI, but the capbadge looks too small to be 9 HLI. As you said, 9 HLI wore government tartan kilts but they also wore a capbadge almost identical to the Black Watch with Glasgow Highlanders written on it. None of them have riders breeches or riders Boots on. The Balmoral is interesting. Can't see the capbadge. I think many of the Scottish regiments wore blue bonnets with dicing after the battle of Loos, then went into khaki balmorals, then most went into Tam-O-Shanters. Wouldn't the Lovat Scouts be in Yeomanry type gear, till they became cyclists? hope this helps Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 6 February , 2006 Share Posted 6 February , 2006 Sorry Stewart, The soldier 4th from right looks like he is wearing a Black Watch shaped badge. He is probably your 9HLI man. Also, the Balmoral capbadge does look round enough to be Lovatt Scots Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 6 February , 2006 Share Posted 6 February , 2006 Windsor, Out of interest, could you post the photos in highland kit? In barracks, on fatigues etc, it was quite common to keep the kilt (or tartan trews) in good order for walking out dress and a fatigue order of dress would be worn (ironically the kilts were generally worn in the trenches). Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WINDSOR383 Posted 7 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 7 February , 2006 TOM, thank you for your advice i have attached a close up picture wich is slightly better thomas is on the right, but i agree in respect that the 9th HLI badge looks bigger than the one tomas is wearing. i have a picture of thomas with a group of soldiers who seam to have the same uniform i will attach it to a second email due to the size. thank you regards stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WINDSOR383 Posted 7 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 7 February , 2006 tom, I have attached the second picture I have no details about it apart from tomas is holding the towel at waist level on the right. regards stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 7 February , 2006 Share Posted 7 February , 2006 Windsor, Please find below a link for all the Medal Index Cards for all of the Thomas McGeachys that were awarded medals in the First World War. Two of them are HLI. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...r=1&querytype=1 Hope this helps Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 7 February , 2006 Share Posted 7 February , 2006 The close up now shows that the soldier in the diced balmoral is not wearing a Lovat Scouts capbadge. It is either another HLI capbadge or possibly a Royal Scots one. hope this is of use. Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 7 February , 2006 Share Posted 7 February , 2006 Hello, As I mentioned before, he is probably a member of the 6th battalion HLI, they wore this style of head dress pre war. I have a very clear photo of them in camp, the hat and badge postion are an exact ,match. they were also a kilted battalion. I think all the people in the photo are HLI Terratorials, as I said before. A mix of 6th, 9th and probably a third battalion, but I can't be sure of their number, yet. There was another TF Battalion which wore the plain glengarries, which I think is the third battalion [who's number we are not sure of] in the photograph. Regards, Stewart PS nice to see the close up details and the long Terratorial shoulder badges of the HLI. Do you know which area of Glasgow he came from, this just might tie in with a TF battalion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 7 February , 2006 Share Posted 7 February , 2006 Hello, Can we have a close up of the badge of the Sergeant in the middle of the group [The man wearing the Peaked Forage Cap]. There is a chance that he may hold an answer to why there is a group of HLI TF men together. The Sergeant may be running a specialist course. Just a thought. Regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WINDSOR383 Posted 7 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 7 February , 2006 thank you all so much for all replies, thomas mcgeachy was living at 288 cumberland street, hutchesontown, glasgow in 1913 when he married. i will attach a copy of the sgt in the centre. best regards stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 7 February , 2006 Share Posted 7 February , 2006 Stewart, Here is a picture of what I'm assuming is some HLI men wearing the diced bonnet here (Scroll to 2nd from bottom): http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/springburn/sp...springwar03.htm Back to the enlarged main photo, it looks like the soldier to the left of the one wearing the service cap may be 9 HLI also. Maybe a training cadre for HLI soldiers within that territorial training brigade? I can't quite make out the capbadge on the service cap. Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WINDSOR383 Posted 7 February , 2006 Author Share Posted 7 February , 2006 TOM, thanks for the reply and the link one group photo has the same mix of headress as my group does. best regaeds stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 7 February , 2006 Share Posted 7 February , 2006 As this is a thread with the HLI theme here's a grand uncle of mine in a studio photo with his wife and son. I think circa 1915. Any thoughts as to battalion? Any significance with the lanyard? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 8 February , 2006 Share Posted 8 February , 2006 Hello, I think the Sergeant, in the group photo, is wearing the Yorkshire light Infantry badge. If you look at his shoulder straps, it looks very much like he to is wearing a Terratorial Shoulder title. Ian, interesting photograph. Have you got a copy of his MIC card. sometimes you can tell a bit from his service number. Regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnr.ktrha Posted 8 February , 2006 Share Posted 8 February , 2006 Tom, Nice link. Good to see a collection of photo's with some info with them. Regards, Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 8 February , 2006 Share Posted 8 February , 2006 Stewart, Trouble is that there are several HLI candidates with the same name and I cannot narrow it down. I downloaded the MIC since it shows several similarly named servicemen's details, and eliminated those with wrong initials or KIA's but it still leaves me with a few possibles. The only other piece of knowledge I have is that he may have been discharged on health grounds prior to the war's end (he had been a miner). Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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