rgalley Posted 4 January , 2014 Share Posted 4 January , 2014 Territorial of unknown unit. Portrait by C.A.Solomons, Bedford. Message on reverse, 'Xmas 1917'. Message on front, 'Best Wishes from Jim'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 5 January , 2014 Author Share Posted 5 January , 2014 Great pictures. I think Gordon Cotton is in actual fact, 2183 Gordon K Cotton of the 1/1 Worcestershire Yeomanry, the badge fits as as well as the spurs and other equipment. He came from Wellington Heath, Herefordshire only around 10 miles from Worcester. He survived the war. They were stationed at Kings Lynne prior to leaving for Gallipoli from Avonmouth. Speculation, but as Bedford is directly on the route between KL and Avonmouth, perhaps they broke the journey there, giving him time for a picture. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 5 January , 2014 Author Share Posted 5 January , 2014 Message on the back of photo reads, 'Yours Sincerely Gordon Cotton'. I think he is Army Service Corps. Can anyone enlighten me on his belt arrangement? Portrait by Alice Neame, Bedford. Undated. I'd like to find out more about Alice Neame. She must have been something of a pioneer as a female commercial photographer in this period of history? Alice Neame came from Kent, daughter of a Farmer from Birchington. In 1911 she was visiting friends outside Bedfordshire, but is listed as a Photographer. Not sure when she came to Bedford but she married (under name Eliza Alice Neame) a photographer Reginald Douglas Percy (born in Scotland) from Stanley Street Bedford on 12 April 1918 at St Martins. He was a serving member of the RGA (78186) and died of wounds 5 months later. Lots of info as his papers have survived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteStarLine Posted 5 January , 2014 Share Posted 5 January , 2014 A member of the Australian Imperial Force. <snip> dated June 1918. I understand that the 3rd Division AIF was in and around Bedfordshire at this time. Nice photo and presumably a member of the AIF Second Division, from the diamond-shaped colour patch. All Australian divisions were on the Somme at this time and the 3rd Division were preparing for the Battle of Hamel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 5 January , 2014 Author Share Posted 5 January , 2014 No photographer and undated, but I'm wondering if this could be Haynes Park later in the war? The sergeant wears a Scout's badge and overseas stripes. I can't make out the shoulder titles and the cap badges are not clearly defined. Any ideas? No photographer and undated, but I'm wondering if this could be Haynes Park later in the war? The sergeant wears a Scout's badge and overseas stripes. I can't make out the shoulder titles and the cap badges are not clearly defined. Any ideas? I think more likely Bedfordshire Command Depot, Ampthill Park, given they are 100% Bedfordshires, many seasoned BR men were sent there after recovering from wounds etc and also it was used to train and prepare recruits too young for active service. I see the scout (first class) also wears the 14 star ribbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgalley Posted 5 January , 2014 Share Posted 5 January , 2014 No photographer and undated, but I'm wondering if this could be Haynes Park later in the war? The sergeant wears a Scout's badge and overseas stripes. I can't make out the shoulder titles and the cap badges are not clearly defined. Any ideas? I think more likely Bedfordshire Command Depot, Ampthill Park, given they are 100% Bedfordshires, many seasoned BR men were sent there after recovering from wounds etc and also it was used to train and prepare recruits too young for active service. I see the scout (first class) also wears the 14 star ribbon. Thanks for the added info John. Feeling suitably chastened that I didn't recognise the Bedfordshires cap badge at least and Ampthill Park ... forgotten about that one! I did wonder about the 14 star ribbon, but was a bit tentative about suggesting it. That'd square with the bottom, darker (red) overseas stripe. The lad sitting next to the sergeant certainly looks to be too young for active service! Nice photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaforths Posted 5 January , 2014 Share Posted 5 January , 2014 No photographer and undated, but I'm wondering if this could be Haynes Park later in the war? The sergeant wears a Scout's badge and overseas stripes. I can't make out the shoulder titles and t I think more likely Bedfordshire Command Depot, Ampthill Park, given they are 100% Bedfordshires, many seasoned BR men were sent there after recovering from wounds etc and also it was used to train and prepare recruits too young for active service. I see the scout (first class) also wears the 14 star ribbon. Enjoying your photos as usual guys and am intrigued as to how that child was in uniform and hope he didn't see active service at the front. He looks about 13 or 14! He must have bumped up some unscrupulous recruiter's bonus. I had thought that later in the war they made proper id checks as they brought in the registration processes and conscription...just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgalley Posted 5 January , 2014 Share Posted 5 January , 2014 Alice name came from Kent, daughter of a Farmer from Birchington. In 1911 she was visiting friends outside Bedfordshire, but is listed as a Photographer. Not sure when she came to Bedford but she married (under name Eliza Alice Neame) a photographer Reginald Douglas Percy (born in Scotland) from Stanley Street Bedford on 12 April 1918 at St Martins. He was a serving member of the RGA (78186) and died of wounds 5 months later. Lots of info as his papers have survived. John, Thanks for this information. Not fair to ask you these additional questions, but here goes ... Do you happen to know where Alice Neame had her studio in Bedford? Did she have her own set-up or did she share facilities with another studio, I wonder? How long was she operating her own business for? Cheers Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 5 January , 2014 Author Share Posted 5 January , 2014 I believe 21 St Peter's Street this is the shop that is now John Bull's, the original JB being in the High Street as still denoted by the golden bull….. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgalley Posted 5 January , 2014 Share Posted 5 January , 2014 Thanks John ... now John Bull & Co the jewellers. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgalley Posted 5 January , 2014 Share Posted 5 January , 2014 Photo captioned, 'An amusing billeting incident at Bedford'. Not quite sure about the 'amusing' bit. However a couple of Seaforth Highlanders who are fortunate enough to be accommodated in a furnished billet. The chap bent over the basin is a piper and his pipes lie on the couch that the other man is sitting on. Is murder about to be done with the cut throat? Some may say that spending any time in the same room as a piper with his pipes would be enough to drive the sanest of men to foulest of deeds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgalley Posted 5 January , 2014 Share Posted 5 January , 2014 Meanwhile a couple more Seaforth engaged in 'interior economy' at their Bedford billet, c.summer 1914. Caption to this photo is, 'Handy Highlanders at work in their new quarters'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 6 January , 2014 Author Share Posted 6 January , 2014 Enjoying your photos as usual guys and am intrigued as to how that child was in uniform and hope he didn't see active service at the front. He looks about 13 or 14! He must have bumped up some unscrupulous recruiter's bonus. I had thought that later in the war they made proper id checks as they brought in the registration processes and conscription...just a thought. Hi Seaforths, yes my thoughts exactly, so young but as this is late 1918 hopefully he never left Bedfordshire.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 6 January , 2014 Share Posted 6 January , 2014 That's a great picture John! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgalley Posted 6 January , 2014 Share Posted 6 January , 2014 John, Great photos of the Omnia works. Do I spy a skeletal BE2 among the many Avro 504s? The photo of Tavistock St. is terrific. This was well within the Seaforth and Cameron Brigade's billeting district. Still a recognisable streetscape today. You're right ... 'War Illustrated' was the source of the photos of the Seaforth men in their Bedford billets. I visited my dad the other day and he handed me 5 hefty, bound ('deluxe', no less!) collections in album form. They'd belonged to my great grandfather and I remember poring over them when I was a boy whenever we visited my grandpa. Lots of interesting material in amongst lots of anti-German propaganda ... all superbly illustrated as you'd expect from the magazine's title! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 26 March , 2014 Share Posted 26 March , 2014 Great pic! So what is in the cloth bags? daily rations or something else? Interesting that there appears to be an O/R with a binoculars case - looks like he may be a signaler (if that is a flag he is holding?) Also of note: couple of men have plain (undiced) glengarries They are armed with CLLEs This is one for CarolynM. I have seen a poor copy of this before but this one is great. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 27 March , 2014 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2014 Exactly the questions I had Chris, regarding the bags and the O/R with binoculars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul searing Posted 15 April , 2014 Share Posted 15 April , 2014 Hi I am researching Haynes Park camp and having found the story of Nelly Rault who was murded back in 1919 she was work at the camp whrn she killed. She is buried in Saint Mary's Chuch which is next to Haynes Park. is you look at an image (such as Google Earth or Google Maps) you can see the outline on the grass in the park where the ols wooden huts were standing, the image is quite good and in a strage way also very earie. thanks Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DianaJackson Posted 24 June , 2014 Share Posted 24 June , 2014 Hi Paul I am sure that you have found information at the Great War Channel Island Study Group http://www.greatwarci.net/women/jersey/nr/nr1.htm website about Nellie Rault and the Bedford archives have amazingly detailed newspaper accounts of the trial (as does Jersey) Her story caught my eye because of my connections to the Channel Islands but I live in Clophill and cycled to the churchyard, walking around the back of Haynes Park near to the woods where she is murdered. You might be interested in a novel I've just released inspired by her story - although I have changed her name, 'Murder, now and then' has flashbacks to the original unsolved murder quoted from the newspaper cuttings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Katrinabean Posted 5 November , 2014 Share Posted 5 November , 2014 I am working on my ancestry and found that William Pulham died in March 1917 - I believe that it was at Kempston Barracks Hospital but I cant seem to find any info about this hospital. I am intrigued! Especially after watching several tv program dramas that covered shell shock - that he died from...... Can anyone give me any links? Pleas? Theresa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BiddBoy Posted 11 May , 2015 Share Posted 11 May , 2015 Hi, we are a local history group beginning a search for information about Welsh regiments/soldiers who spent time in Bedford, and maybe even in our nearby village of Biddenham, during the Great War. We would appreciate any information, images, you felt able to share with us. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felicity.cleaves Posted 21 June , 2015 Share Posted 21 June , 2015 Someone suggested i repost this here in case anyone can help. I am wondering if anyone can help with identifying this uniform - not much to go on I know. The reverse says "Photo by Donald Lindley, 99, Tavistock St Bedford". I thought I knew who it was but now I have a photo of that person from a relative and they are not the same. I am now wondering if this might be my Great Uncle who died at home in July 1916 of Tubercular Meningitis aged 22 years. I am not aware aware that he served but he might have done. His death certificate describes him as a Tailor /Journeyman. His name was Joseph Edward Manning (Eddie). I can find no service record online but that may not mean much. He was born in Naseby, Northants but the Family moved into Great Bowden, Market Harborough which is where he died. The photo was kept by his brother. Any help appreciated. Felicity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 21 June , 2015 Share Posted 21 June , 2015 The man above is a Royal Engineer. The RE shoulder title is worn too far up the shoulder strap so I suspect he has just got his shoulder title, possibly on enlistment. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 5 November , 2015 Share Posted 5 November , 2015 First new one for ages: An Alice Neame photo (I wonder if that is her bike in the background?) - perhaps taken from the steps of the pavilion Richard? - looks to be TF Seaforths pipers. Lots of imperial service badges visible and the man front left (as they stand) appears to be wearing a mourning button. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgalley Posted 6 November , 2015 Share Posted 6 November , 2015 Chris, Please see attached. The Pipes and Drums of the 6th Seaforth in front of Bedford (Grammar) School cricket pavilion, photographed by Alice Neame. These are the same men who appear in your photo and, perhaps, the images were captured on the same day given that your photo was taken from the steps of the cricket pavilion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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