richardshaw Posted 10 March , 2006 Share Posted 10 March , 2006 Hello, I was so impressed with the kind response to my last my post I thought I would chance anyone being able to shed some light on some photo's I have. On the photo's I am posting Im not sure who the people are or the units. I beleive they are maybe connected. The photo with the embroidary could have a link through the name of Sgt J Sims West Riding which is a family name. The only other clue I have is that the back of pic 27 it has a name Herbert on it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardshaw Posted 10 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 10 March , 2006 AS the resolution wasnt good enough on the last picture here is a list of the names on the squares and any other details I could read. The date seems to be 1917. Maybe it will be of interest to someone? Pte S Hudson 8 Coy Welsh Rgt Pioneers Rifleman C Mernagh 4th Royal Irish Rifles Pte J Waugh Northumberland Fusliers AB J Gillespie 1st Hawke Royal Naval Division Pte Hexley 2nd Royal Warwickshire D Sully 15th Divisonal Motor Transport Pte. R Campbell 13th Royal Scots Pte. W Lee 2nd Batt Suffolk Regt. Pte. J Divall 10th Batt The Queens Own Pte. G Wilkins 22nd Middlesex Regt Pte A Burniston 26th Royal Fusiliers Pte J Playford ?? Regt Pte A Rowe 8th Batt East Sussex Regt Pte J Pinnock 3rd London Regt Pte C Hunt 3rd Worcestershire Regt Sgt J Holliday Tyneside Scottish Pte C Panter 1st Northants Regt Pte Hawker 17th Notts and Derby Pte H Pearce The Devon Regt 8th Batt L/Cpl A Willats 17th Batt Middlesex Regt Pte J Houseman West Yorks Pte J Eaglesfield 1 S.Staffs Regt Sgt A L Loft East York 8th Batt Pte W Young 9th Glasgow Highlanders RFLN C Harvey 1/9th London Regt (QVR) Sgt R H Cass RE Pte B M Pipps 1st Batt Royal Fusliers Pte F Chitty 19th Batt The Welsh Regt Pte JA Chitty 2/8 London Royal Fusiliers Gunner J S McLeod RGA Heavy Batt Pte C Bowles 121Machine Gun Corps Cpl. H Heal 1st Batt Royal Warwick Regt Pte E Coin 2nd Batt RMLI RND Pte H J Placy 1st Field Ambulance Sgt R E Machan 32nd Royal Fus Sgt J Rooke 1st Yorkshire Regt Rifleman H Earnshaw London Rifle Brigade Pte S Cameron OAS L/Cpl S Cage 1st Somerset Regt Pte Hewer 1st Batt Royal Berks Pte W Ormald Gordon Highlander Pte W Knipe 9th West Riding Pte W Moir 1st Gordon Highlanders Pte W H Rothwell 1/5th L N Lancs Regt Pte W Moir 1st Gordon Highlanders Pte W Green WRFA RAMC TF Pte A Wilson 1st Royal Sussex Regt Pte JC Braybrook 1st London Regt RF Cpl J Grace 7th Manchester Regt Pte W Hargreaves 12th Manchester Regt Pte H Plunkett 2nd Royal Irish Pte J McDonald 1st Batt HLI Sgt J Sims 8th West Riding Pte J Leary 50th Division RAMC Pte A Wilkinson 12th Manchester Regt Pte Mill?? 6th Batt ASH Arg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 10 March , 2006 Share Posted 10 March , 2006 Hospital therapeutic sewing blanket. Was big at the time ... sewing circles etc. Great pics. I think that's what it is anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 11 March , 2006 Share Posted 11 March , 2006 Richard, Great photos, the first shows a section of gunners (RFA/RGA/RHA) the guy back right wears the rank of a staff sergeant - 3 stripes and a crown (don't know his appointment). Notice the cigarette in his hand. Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 11 March , 2006 Share Posted 11 March , 2006 Also the wound stripe on his lower left fore arm Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 11 March , 2006 Share Posted 11 March , 2006 He looks as if he has lost his right arm. Is that a wound stripe on his left arm ? You just beat me to it Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gporta Posted 11 March , 2006 Share Posted 11 March , 2006 The cyclists in post #4 wear a non-regulation footwear? (though it seems more appropiate for pedalling) Gloria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshdoc Posted 11 March , 2006 Share Posted 11 March , 2006 Afraid I cant tell you any thing about the photos but the missess would kill for the quilt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 11 March , 2006 Share Posted 11 March , 2006 The Tall SSgt - if early in the war he may hold the appointment of BSM Compared to the other troops he is immaculately turned out. Also, I think he is wearing riding breeches. Not too uncommon for the RHA/RFA. Again hope this helps PS - I also think the back row of gunners look small, (horsemen? Jockeys on Home Service?) Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 11 March , 2006 Share Posted 11 March , 2006 Looks as if the S Sgt has two wound stripes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Drummond Posted 11 March , 2006 Share Posted 11 March , 2006 I think the 'lost' right arm is just behind the sergeant's back actually, as the normal way to fold a uniform sleeve is outwards with three equal folds as per regulations. Excellent photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 11 March , 2006 Share Posted 11 March , 2006 Richard, Great photos, the first shows a section of gunners (RFA/RGA/RHA) the guy back right wears the rank of a staff sergeant - 3 stripes and a crown (don't know his appointment). Notice the cigarette in his hand. Tom McC A gunner would never ever wear three chevrons and a crown .... the device over the chevrons is the full sergeant's gun, I believe. The gun was worn by all full ranks from sergeant upwards. Next rank up, several possible appointments, would have crown over gun, which I just do not see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardshaw Posted 11 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 11 March , 2006 Thanks to everyone for the feedback. It has now given me a few clues to try and make an identification of why the family should have this photo. My G.G.Grandfather was a sgt Major in the Royal Garrison Artillery up to about 1900. It maybe someone from that part of the family who followed in his footsteps? On the other photo's does anyone have any clues to who the regiments are? I have enclosed a more detailed image of cap badges in case in can offer any further clues. Im trying to see of their is a connection with the name of Sims from the patchwork photo and the other pictures. Thanks again to everyone for their kind contributions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 11 March , 2006 Share Posted 11 March , 2006 I think the 'lost' right arm is just behind the sergeant's back actually, as the normal way to fold a uniform sleeve is outwards with three equal folds as per regulations. Jake The arm seems to be at a strange angle if it is behind his back. Will you please explain what you mean by "the normal way to fold a uniform sleeve is outwards etc". Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gporta Posted 12 March , 2006 Share Posted 12 March , 2006 On the other photo's does anyone have any clues to who the regiments are? I have enclosed a more detailed image of cap badges in case in can offer any further clues. Im trying to see of their is a connection with the name of Sims from the patchwork photo and the other pictures. For the rough look of the Cap Badge and Shoulder Titles... maybe the Northern Cyclist Battalion Gloria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Drummond Posted 12 March , 2006 Share Posted 12 March , 2006 Get someone to stand as per the sergeant with an arm behind his back Myrtle, and I'm sure it'll be self evident! The proper and regualtion fold of the sleeve is to make three equal folds of the material and pin it with the cuff edge facing outwards (so as not to catch the side of the uniform jacket) and displaying any badge of rank or wound emblem worn at the cuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 12 March , 2006 Share Posted 12 March , 2006 Get someone to stand as per the sergeant with an arm behind his back Myrtle, and I'm sure it'll be self evident! The proper and regualtion fold of the sleeve is to make three equal folds of the material and pin it with the cuff edge facing outwards (so as not to catch the side of the uniform jacket) and displaying any badge of rank or wound emblem worn at the cuff. Jake I had already done what you suggest before my last post. I still think that his right arm looks a smaller size than his left. He must have been left handed if not right armless as he is smoking with his left. I take it you are saying that the folded sleeve was the way in which an armless Sgt would wear his empty sleeve ? Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Drummond Posted 12 March , 2006 Share Posted 12 March , 2006 O.K. Myrtle, and yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 12 March , 2006 Share Posted 12 March , 2006 Comparatively 'armless, then? I find it very difficult to believe that a one-armed RA Sgt [glad we have dropped the 'staff sgt' bit] would have been retained in the service. The place for an empty sleeve is across the front, surely, in any case? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gporta Posted 12 March , 2006 Share Posted 12 March , 2006 Surely the loss of an arm (or part of it) would be considered enough cause for a soldier to be honourably discharged from service -and receive a pension-? Since men without amputations were so (and got their SWB) I should say that an one-armed soldier was condidered "not fit" to remain, at least, in active services. However, not being an expert, I stand to be corrected... does anyone know about soldiers with amputations being kept in service? I understand that physically unfit or medically downgraded men (though not amputees) would serve either in Home Service units, Labour Corps, Garrison duties or whatever form of service which didn't require the minimum physical/health standards of those serving in the Firing line (the ones enabling them to march with full-pack equipment to and from the lines, living in the trenches, fighting, etc...) Gloria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 12 March , 2006 Share Posted 12 March , 2006 Grumpy/LB, Yes your correct, the Sgt/SSgt Rank in the gunners would have a cloth field gun above the chevrons (similar to the one on the cap badge). Nicely spotted Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Drummond Posted 12 March , 2006 Share Posted 12 March , 2006 Some experienced men with wounds, and presumably amputations, were kept on in Recruitment and Training Units, though I remain unconvinced that this is the case in the photograph. Surely a Senior NCO with front line service, as he appears to be, would be invaluable to the MOD and well able to pass on knowledge to new recruits, one-armed, 'recovered from wounds' or otherwise? Wounded soldiers were retained until they were discharged after convalescence, and the wearing of uniform was still compulsory outwith hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 12 March , 2006 Share Posted 12 March , 2006 Comparatively 'armless, then? I find it very difficult to believe that a one-armed RA Sgt [glad we have dropped the 'staff sgt' bit] would have been retained in the service. The place for an empty sleeve is across the front, surely, in any case? Couldn't he have been retained for training purposes ? Jake I posted the same time as you therefore my question has been answered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aodhdubh Posted 3 April , 2006 Share Posted 3 April , 2006 Sam Browne comes to mind, although I don't know anything about him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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