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Is this photo First World War?


redorchestra

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Hello guys

I was wondering if anyone could help me. My grandad died recently and while searching through his stuff I found these photos of my great uncle Jack Tomlin. I don't really know much about him but I'm trying to find out if he fought in the First World War or not. Could people have a look at these photos and tell me if they think his uniform is of First World War vintage or not? I have no idea what regiment he might have served in.

post-9156-1152908779.jpg

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Another picture

post-9156-1152909061.jpg

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I am probably stating the obvious but the second picture shows that he has medal ribbons. Judging from the uniforms in both pictures these can only be first world war campaign medals. The first uniform definitely looks first world war but apologies if I am wrong.

Liam

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Like Liam I think we're looking at a WWI photo at the top and a post-WWI at the bottom and looking at the cap badge would think it's probably Manchester Regiment. At the end of the war it wasn't unusual to find blokes signing on into the Army even after four years of mud and blood.

Graham.

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Manchester Regiment?

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post-7376-1152912492.jpg

This is the Manchester Regiments badge, but there was a slight variation if it was a Territorial Battalion, which made it slightly larger in size.

Graham.

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Thanks, every little helps! It is frustrating trying to find out more about him. He could be any one of those entries on the MIC, or none of them, as he appears to be a sergeant in both pictures but they are all privates. I assume this information would be entered on the MIC?

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Hi Graham, Stephen,

Like you my initial gut feeling was the Manchester regiment, purely from the shape of the cap badge. Also first picture presumably during / pre war and second post war because of the ribbons.

Is there anything written on the back of the photos redorchestra? How do you know that it is great uncle jack? Any more clues? Where was he from for example.

Liam

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I know it is my Great Uncle Jack as another photo has his name on the back. Frustratingly, it says 'To my dear parents, from your loving son Jack 19-' then the rest is cut off!

The problem is, that side of my family was involved in a fair amount of scandal. My grandad was an illegitimate child born in the 1920's, and consequently his mother disowned him for the rest of her life. Jack was her brother. I will have to try and find out some more, although at my grandads funeral it felt like I was opening up old wounds by prying, even after 80 odd years!

I'm not exactly sure where he was from but my Grandad was born in Shoreditch so I imagine it was around East London.

Privateparts, thanks for that, looks good! I like these photos as I don't have any photos of the one member of my family who I know definitely served in WW1 and whose medals I own. An overzealous social worker in the 60's threw them all out when he was moved into a home. You have no idea how much this makes me want to break something every time I think of it.

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Doesn't mean that he wouldn't have joined the Manchesters but the local regiment is usually a good starting point.

Not sure where we go from here but I am sure that more knowlegable forum memberswill be able to come up with more.

Kev - pictures look good. Looks like you are getting use out of that Christmas present!

Good luck

Liam

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the 1st battalion went to jaljulye near jaffa,palestine after the war,the second picture looks like it was taken after the war,he may have been promoted just after the war when the medal rolls had been completed,bernard

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The shorts, light and tentage in the second picture certainly made me think he was in the Middle East.

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Many people known as Jack were christened John. No idea why, but maybe thats the case here.

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Any of these from your family?

This is from the 1901 census - I think the majority are Bromley, East London, rather than Kent. There is

an 8 year old John (Jack was a customary knick-name for John).

Ian

+++

James Tomlin 54 Canterbury England London Bromley Stoker Gas Works

Rosetta Tomlin 46 Dover England London Bromley

Charles Tomlin 21 Bromley London London Bromley Labourer Iron Works

Harriet Tomlin 18 Bromley London London Bromley Coffee Shop Assistant

Hanry Tomlin 16 Bromley London London Bromley Telegraph Messenger

Edward Tomlin 13 Bromley London London Bromley

John Tomlin 8 Bromley London London Bromley

Clara Tomlin 6 Bromley London London Bromley

May Tomlin 5 Bromley London London Bromley

George Tomlin 2 Bromley London London Bromley

Rose Tomlin 34 London Kensington Kent Bromley Cook Domestic

Alice Tomlin 26 Sittingbourne Kent Of Kent Bromley Housemaid Domestic

Ansell P Tomlin 17 London London Bromley Printer

Joseph Tomlin 42 I Of W Cowes London Bromley Under Taker

Emily Tomlin 42 Devon Kingsbridge London Bromley

Lydia Tomlin 15 London Bromley London Bromley

Fred Tomlin 10 London Bromley London Bromley

Ruby Tomlin 2 London Bromley London Bromley

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Many people known as Jack were christened John. No idea why, but maybe thats the case here.

Hello boys

My father was christened John and on all his army papers he is referred to as John, but throughout his life was known informally by all as Jack........ He told me a long time ago in times gone by the Anglican clergy refused to recognise Jack as a Christian name as it was working class slang for John, If this is indeed true I’m unsure...

Best

Tom.....

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The shorts, light and tentage in the second picture certainly made me think he was in the Middle East.

I agree - have seen that "look" so many times when researching the 5th Beds in Palestine.

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Jack as a Christian name as it was working class slang for John, If this is indeed true I’m unsure...

Yep! My Gramps was Stanley John, known as Jack all his life after the John part of his name (if you followed that? :blink: ).

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