Just Another Uniform Identification

[Yertle]

I wonder if anyone has any ideas of the identification of this Uniform.

He is belived to be my grate grate grandad in the grate war,

The myths are that he was a driver in the grate war for England and while he was in service came in contact with gas, and died after the war, Losts more myths two.

Any ideas would be of some interest if it's a drivers type uniform or another type.

Facts so far, he was 21 in 1902 by his marrage cert,

Of the name of Hubert Francis Smith,

Trev

[4thGordons]

This uniform is the sort of uniform a British driver would have worn so if it is your great grand father that is consistent

He is wearing a simplified service dress (tunic) - no pleats in pockets etc - the collars look a bit large but perhaps it is the low camera angle and he has the 1903 bandoleer (worn by by mounted units) which is consistent with drivers

age (mid 30s?) looks about right

Have you looked for medal cards etc? (see general info on finding an individual - you can have a look at the national archive)

Summary: I think the picture is consistent with the story. It is a British (Commonwealth) uniform. You should be able to verify other elements of the story.

Hope this helps

Best,

Chris

[4thGordons]

Here are the MIC from the National Archives - the second one has matching second intials.

In my amateur opinion the picture could easily be either of the last two

Chris

Medal card of Smith, Hubert

Corps: French Red Cross

Rank: Driver

1914-1920 WO 372/18

Medal card of Smith, Hubert F B

Corps: French Red Cross

Rank: Driver

1914-1920 WO 372/18

Medal card of Smith, Hubert

Corps: Royal Field Artillery

Regiment No: 44721

Rank: Driver

1914-1920 WO 372/18

Medal card of Smith, Hubert

Corps: Royal Field Artillery

Regiment No: 70774

Rank: Driver

1914-1920 WO 372/18

[Yertle]

Here are the MIC from the National Archives - the second one has matching second intials.

In my amateur opinion the picture could easily be either of the last two

Chris

Medal card of Smith, Hubert

Corps: French Red Cross

Rank: Driver

1914-1920 WO 372/18

Medal card of Smith, Hubert F B

Corps: French Red Cross

Rank: Driver

1914-1920 WO 372/18

Medal card of Smith, Hubert

Corps: Royal Field Artillery

Regiment No: 44721

Rank: Driver

1914-1920 WO 372/18

Medal card of Smith, Hubert

Corps: Royal Field Artillery

Regiment No: 70774

Rank: Driver

1914-1920 WO 372/18

Hello there Chris

Thanks for your help,

yes i have looked up the medal cards, and even found 5 x Hubert F two of them may be possibles that where were in the ASC , and one was a private, and an MS , (to do with driveing) the other one was a serjent.

so many possibles so far , just need to weed them out in time

Do you know of any (good) web sites that identify Uniforms ?

Trev

[4thGordons]

This forum is going to be your best bet in my humble opinion. The amount of knowlege on this site is phenomenal. If there is additional information to be gleaned from the picture you have posted someone on here will know!

For what it is worth (just my 2p) This looks like a standard Great War period uniform for mounted units (the leather ammunition bandolier from the 1903 set was retained. There is no badge visible to me on the picture so that is no help, and the buttons and shoulder insignia are not visible to me (I have tried messing around with the picture in photoshop and cannot discover anything). The only thing that looks little odd is the way the hat is shaped (or mishapen!) but for my money it is a standard ASC / RA etc type drivers uniform. He does not appear to be wearing spurs or leather shinguards/calf protectors but otherwise I do not see anything remarkable or particularly distinctive.

for comparison here are two pictures of similar uniforms

on the left three gents with very fine 'taches! in a uniform like the one you posted. I believe these are RFA men - the shoulder titles are just visible on the original, the chap in the middle appears to have the simplified tunic (without pocket pleats) like the man in your picture.

for a comparison on the right is a Canadian ASC man with a 7 button tunic, collar insignia etc. He is also wearing spurs. He is armed with a Ross rifle rather then the more ususal SMLE. There is enough detail in this picture to allow clear ID - in yours there is not much that allows me to glean much.

[Yertle]

Hello there 4thGordons

Thanks ,

As you say they are simaler for the grate war eara , I am trying to find out if there were any more photos of Hubert F Smith , The only one i could get my hands on was the size of a large match box, and was a copy of the orriginal, dose'nt help. I was told just a week ago that 2 relly's died that were related to that side of the family that i did'nt know about, so the sorce of information is slowly getting smaller.

I am currently tracking down Hubert Francis dads death, as i have a lead to go on, to see if that get's me closer to Hubert,

I know it's getting off subject but the Men/Woman that were Injered in the grate war over sea's , was there a list or place that they had to record any information at ? he's not on the war grave's list, and i cant find a death so far the relates to him on the GEO index , i am wondering if he died over sea's after the war.

Trev