grannysrock Posted 12 July , 2006 Share Posted 12 July , 2006 Hello everyone, This is my first posting to this forum and I hope I don't mess it up . I have dropped in as a guest a few times and been very impressed by the knowledge and helpfulness of contibutors to this forum. The attached photo, is of my great grandfather (centre) and 2 of his brothers - I think. My father is not aware of him having served during WWI and thinks he light have been in some volunteer force - we just don't know. It was taken in Edinburgh and the photographers were "Drummond Shiels" . According to www.edinphoto.org.uk this trade name was used from 1919 - 1944 , but "J Drummond Shiels" was already in business in 19th C - so basically I have no idea when it was taken. My great grandfather was born in 1884 - perhaps that is more useful. Anyway if anyone has any idea what these uniforms are, I would be very grateful . Sally PS I think this site as a whole is both a fantastic learning tool and wonderful tribute to those who served. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 12 July , 2006 Share Posted 12 July , 2006 The Central Figure is a member of the Royal Engineers ,from his large "RE" Shoulder Title,to his right ,with the Lance Corporal's Chevron & "L" Badge,& Overseas Chevrons; is an Artilleryman ,The "L" Badge being that of a Gun Layer,not sure of t'other one ,but obviously a Scottish Regiment ,{Badge could be Scottish Horse},with the Kilt & cut away tunic skirt;His collar dog & Divisional Patch,may give a clue,if a clearer pic of it can be shown.However he appears to be wearing the Ribbon of possibly The Russian Medal/Cross of St George{alternate Gold{Orange} & Black Stripes}The uniforms are WW1 era & I expect if you know their names Medal Index Cards can be found for them on the NA National Archive Centre Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 12 July , 2006 Share Posted 12 July , 2006 Sally, In agreement with Harry Betts. LH Man is Royal Artillery (mounted duties), a Lance Bombardier, and after 1918, and a gunlayer. Not sure about centre chap, not a Scottish Infantry unit. RH man, cannot make out the collar dogs, but the Fife & Forfar Yeomanry & Scottish Horse paid scant regard to not wearing collar badges i.e. they wore them (I think these became 13 & 14 Black Watch), and I am sure they wore their own collar badges. He is not Argylls, Royal Scots, or HLI. Do you have a family name for these soldiers ? hope this helps Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grannysrock Posted 12 July , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 July , 2006 Harry and Tom - thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I am amazed you can tell me so much from one photo. I have tried to "blow up" the collar badges - but it's not coming out very clearly. The family name is Forrester - my dad 's fairly certain that it's his grandfather in the centre (Robert born 1884 ) and he had brothers William born 1879 , John born 1887, James born 1889, Alexander born 1892. The family were carting contractors and thus worked with horses. Ancestrally they were from Fife, but that was a long long time before WWI . I will have a look at the Medal Index - but Tom you think from the the artillery uniform that it is after 1918 ? I am really grateful for your responses - thankyou so much . Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 12 July , 2006 Share Posted 12 July , 2006 Is the kiltie a Canadian? The large patch looks like a Canuk divisional sign (3rd Division?), and the fact he's wearing collar dogs would support that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grannysrock Posted 12 July , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 July , 2006 Steven - I think you have got it! I know nothing of uniforms obviously, but I remembered that many of the Canadian Expeditionary Force attestation papers are on line at http://www.collectionscanada.ca ... and would you believe I have just found there the 1915 attestation papers for 1 James Forrester born 1889 Edinburgh , with next of kin being Jessie Gowans his sister ( that indeed was their sister Jessie's married name) - and she was in Canada too ! I had no idea that any of the Forresters went to Canada. It says he had previous service with the ?cks C.F.A. , Kingston, Ontario . The 1st word is faded out. Thankyou very much for expanding my knowledge of my family tree . Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grannysrock Posted 12 July , 2006 Author Share Posted 12 July , 2006 This is going much faster than expected - using one of the regimental numbers ( he had 2 ?) on the Canadian site I found the medal card at the UK site - he was in the 42nd Canadian Infantry Battalion Quebec Regiment - and the card says "awarded the Military Medal" and it is stamped "FRANCE" . It says Date of Gazette 64 which means 3 July 1919 I see. Tomorrow night I will try to follow that up - could the ribbon be for the Military Medal ? Thankyou all for your generosity , I can't believe my luck. Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajsmith Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 Sally you can order his service from papers from here. They are usually a mine of information. good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 Sally, the 42nd Canadian Battalion was the Royal Highlanders of Canada, so the kilt fits. They were in the 7th Bde, 3rd Division: their unit patch was a green traingle on top of a French Grey rectangle, so that seems to fit with the chap in the photo I had assumed it was an MM ribbon; normally deferring to HarryBetts on ribbons, I was happy to go with him, but my feeling is that it is an MM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 Excellent Call Steve,with the Canuck Connection! lateral thinking @ its best MM it is... What was I thinking!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 Steve, Good eyes . It does look like a Canadian Divisional Patch (Square & Half circle) and of course the Canadians wore collar dogs Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom A McCluskey Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 Sally, Have a look at the Host site, 7th Brigade [square and triangle]: http://www.1914-1918.net/3candiv.htm CEF 42nd Regiment, which was a battalion of the Canadian Black Watch Hope this helps Aye Tom McC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 Smiles smugly...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 Link to the London Gazette for James' MM: LG 3-7-1919 454751 Pte. Forrester, J., 42nd Bn., Quebec R. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType= The Canadian War Diaries are online by the way. Google for Canadian War Diaries, 1st hit. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 Here is the page mentioning his MM award (November 1918). For operations on 29th/30th September 1918 at Cambrai. http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001110336.jpg and previous page: http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e045/e001110335.jpg Going from the long, Long Trail: Quote: The Battle of the Canal du Nord - 27th September - 1st October 1918 First Army .... Canadian Corps : 1st, 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions, 11th Division and Brutinel's Brigade. .... This action included the Tactical Incident of the Capture of Bourlon Wood, by the 3rd Canadian Division. Steve. P.S. With his MM ribbon being worn it would definitely date the picture post war. A homecoming pic ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 Three Robert Forresters in the RE Medal card of Forrester, Robert W Corps Regiment No Rank Scottish Horse 4053 Private Royal Engineers 208666 Private Medal card of Forrester, Robert B Corps Regiment No Rank Royal Highlanders 350493 Private Highland Cyclist Battalion 2326 Private Royal Engineers 411996 Private Medal card of Forrester, Robert Corps Regiment No Rank Royal Engineers 299207 Sapper Royal Engineers WR508854 Sapper Can we eliminate any of these by his initials? Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grannysrock Posted 13 July , 2006 Author Share Posted 13 July , 2006 AJ you can order his service from papers from here. They are usually a mine of information Thankyou - I look forward to some interesting reading. Steven, Tom, Harry - you all have much better eyes than me - now I can see the triangle above the rectangle - but I never noticed it before - not that I would have known what it meant ..... not had I realised beforehand that he was wearing a medal ribbon - I really am quite clueless, aren't I ? Steve - thankyou very much for finding all the links to the relevant pages - that must have taken ages - your help is very much appreciated. In terms of intitials - Robert to the best of my knowledge ( but that's based only on his birth, marriage and death certificates) never had a middle name - which leaves just one candidate if he was in the RE... Again thankyou to you all, you are marvellous. Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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